Shelton's council spent much of its Nov. 25 study session weighing two options to bolster public-safety services: a three-year state grant created by House Bill 2015 and a separate local 0.1% public-safety sales tax. City staff and the police chief told council members the grant could help hire entry-level officers and support municipal court and legal services, but both paths carry strict conditions that have proved difficult for similar agencies to meet.

Chief Chris Kostad and city staff outlined the offer and limits of the HB2015 program. The state-funded grant pool totals $100 million and would cover about 75% of salary costs for eligible hirees for up to three years, with a required local match (reported as 25%, capped at $125,000 per position). The staff presentation said the grant window has opened and the program is already accepting applications.

Why it matters: Shelton staff said the Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC) and Attorney General's Office have attached new training and policy requirements to grant eligibility — including adoption of a model use-of-force policy and several CJTC-mandated trainings — that many small agencies have struggled to meet. Councilors were told roughly 20 applications statewide had been submitted so far, with a substantial share (staff referenced about 13) being declined during initial review. Chief Kostad warned the grant's three-year horizon and the calendar for mandatory training make long-term retention and sustainability uncertain once the grant ends.

City staff also described technical timing for a companion local sales tax. To trigger collection by the Department of Revenue the council would need to meet notice deadlines (DOR requires several weeks' notice and collection starts only on Jan. 1, Apr. 1 or Jul. 1 after notification). Staff emphasized that some training and policy steps must be in place to be eligible to adopt the sales tax under HB2015.

Council reaction was cautious. Some members said the program appears administratively onerous and legally prescriptive; others said the city should not foreclose potential revenue. A majority of councillors indicated they prefer to monitor how CJTC administers the grant and how other jurisdictions fare before moving forward. One councilor summarized the prevailing view: rather than launching a difficult and uncertain application now, Shelton should gather more evidence and return with detailed feasibility work and timelines.

What's next: Staff were asked to keep tracking CJTC decisions and the grant award process, to consult nearby agencies on their experiences and to report back to council with additional detail on policy, training timelines and long-term cost scenarios. There were no formal motions or votes during the session on grant application or tax adoption.

Authorities and program names referenced in the meeting: House Bill 2015 (state grant and related public-safety sales-tax authority), the Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC), Department of Revenue (DOR) filing and collection timelines.