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Provo police propose $30,000 language‑incentive program to boost service for non‑English speakers
Summary
Captain Brian Taylor asked the council to approve $30,000 to launch a language‑incentive program that would pay monthly stipends ($50/$100/$150) based on a proficiency test; Taylor said 16 staff have been tested so far and the department documents about 115 Spanish‑language calls per month.
Captain Brian Taylor of the Provo Police Department asked the Provo Municipal Council on Dec. 3 to approve a $30,000 allocation from the general fund to begin a language‑incentive program intended to improve service to residents with limited English proficiency.
Taylor said the program will use a standardized screening instrument the department has used in initial testing to distinguish three proficiency tiers, with monthly stipend levels of $50, $100 and $150. “This is the same testing instrument the university uses to offer credit to people who want academic credits for their language skills,” Taylor said, explaining the test’s role in identifying conversational and advanced proficiencies.
Taylor provided program figures: 16 department members have been tested so far; four scored at the lowest tier, nine at the mid tier and three at the highest tier, producing a current monthly stipend cost of $1,550 and an estimated current annual cost of about $18,600. He said the department expects to recruit roughly 10 additional participants and estimated an expanded annual cost of about $29,840. The department cited a $40 testing fee per person.
Councilors asked whether the FLAS‑style instrument adequately measures oral dialogue. Taylor said the FLAS test differentiates fluency and that the department would consider other instruments or supplemental oral evaluations if a better tool is identified. He also said the program would include American Sign Language and other key languages when testing instruments exist.
Taylor said the incentive is intended both as a recruitment tool — “If I could say to officers, come test with us, we’ll pay you a competitive pay,” — and as a way to value bilingual officers who currently are asked frequently to assist other units. He said dispatch staff are not included because dispatch already uses a telephonic translation system.
Taylor framed the request as a start; he told the council he would return with detailed budget materials during formal budget deliberations. The transcript does not record a final council vote on the $30,000 allocation during the work meeting.
