Monmouth council adopts $9.85 monthly public safety fee to restore police staffing

The Monmouth City Council voted 4‑0 to adopt Resolution Number 1997, establishing a $9.85 monthly public safety fee on electrical service accounts to support the police department’s staffing and vehicle needs.

Finance Director Susie Marston and Chief Isaiah Haynes told the council the fee is intended to restore officer 15, return the community service officer to full time and fund a planned sixteenth officer and vehicle replacement costs. Marston said the police department accounts for about 39% of the general fund and that the fee’s revenue would help close operating gaps and restore reserves to the city’s policy level: “the police department is 39% of the general fund budget,” she said.

Chief Haynes described recurring staffing shortfalls on typical days—vacations, illness, training and administrative leave—and said the additional positions would improve patrol coverage and supervision. “We would be restoring the fifteenth police officer that we had last year,” he said, and the department would also seek to restore the community service officer to full time and add a sixteenth officer to enhance patrol and traffic enforcement.

Council discussion focused on the fee’s methodology, equity and safeguards. Councilors asked how revenue projections were built and whether the built‑in 3% annual escalator and a 1% accounts growth assumption would yield the anticipated revenue. Marston explained the assumptions used in the five‑year projections and that the fee is not intended to resolve all general fund problems but to ensure staffing and targeted police services can be sustained.

Several councilors raised equity questions about applying the fee by electrical account—larger organizations with multiple meters could pay more than single‑meter households—and urged annual review and account‑class analysis. The resolution instructs staff to review the fee and its assessment annually and to return to council if account classifications or the fee level need revision.

The resolution also authorizes a 40¢ monthly assistance surcharge to be transferred to Polk FCO to administer an eligibility‑based assistance program for low‑income residents impacted by the fee. Marston said Polk FCO already administers the city’s utility assistance and would keep a register and reconcile distributions with the city.

During public comment, Jason Ridgeway said he supported restoring staffing but warned about imposing a citywide fee by administrative action rather than a voter levy. “I strongly support the addition of at least a fifteenth officer,” Ridgeway said, but he added concern about the method of imposing a fee on all citizens without a vote.

The motion to adopt the resolution was made by Councilor McKeel and seconded by Councilor Obers. Roll call recorded Councilor Kerrey: Aye; Councilor McKeel: Yes; Councilor Belts: Aye; Councilor Obers: Yes. The resolution passed 4‑0. The council directed staff to negotiate assistance terms with Polk FCO, return an annual accounting of revenue and expenses, and monitor the fee for potential adjustments.