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Residents urge scrutiny of police payroll and caution on budget fixes at Beverly council meeting
Summary
Two residents urged the council to review police overtime/details pay and to avoid short-term budget fixes such as selling parking meters or issuing debt for operating costs; one cited that 19 of the city's top earners in 2024 were police officers and offered specific pay figures.
Two residents used the public-comment portion of Beverly's Dec. 1 meeting to press the council on payroll and budget policy.
Peter Wilworth, of 10 Fawcett Terrace, raised concerns about police pay and use of paid details and overtime. "19 of our city's top earners in 2024 were police officers, as well as 69 of the top 100 earners," Wilworth said. He cited a top officer who he said "earned $264,000 in 2024, 126,000 in salary, 28,000 in overtime, and 109,000 in paid details," and asked the council to consider caps on overtime or more use of civilian flaggers to reduce detail costs.
John Taylor of 41 Cole Street thanked the council for conservative forecasting but warned against short-term or risky fiscal moves. He urged the council not to be tempted by public-private partnerships that transfer revenue rights (citing an example where parking-meter privatization sharply raised rates) or by issuing debt to cover operating costs. Taylor noted the city faces about a $3 million deficit next fiscal year and urged careful long-term planning rather than quick fixes.
Councilors did not take immediate action in response to the public comments during the meeting; the remarks were entered into the record for committee and staff consideration.
