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Bolton budget workshop flags jump in resident state trooper costs
Summary
Board discussed a projected increase in the police protection budget tied to resident state trooper salary/benefit increases and billing timing; members noted the town pays most of the resident trooper cost and that state contract timing can create uncertainty.
Bolton officials flagged an increase in the police protection line at their Feb. 10 budget workshop, driven primarily by higher resident state trooper salary and benefit costs and by billing timing that hampers forecasting.
Staff said the town pays about 85% of its resident trooper salaries and benefits; the state covers the remainder. Officials stressed that overtime paid by the state for region-wide patrols is not charged to the town, but overtime the town requests for local events (parades, races) is billed to Bolton. Members also noted that the town receives some offset revenue from fines and tickets tied to overtime details, but that revenue is minimal.
Board members asked for historical call‑volume and crime-data comparisons to assess whether the increased line is consistent with service demands. Finance staff noted the town often receives the final state bill after the fiscal year ends, which forces a degree of estimation in the budget. Members said repeated double-digit increases in the state contract would strain future budgets and urged staff to present trend data for the finance committee.
Next step: staff will pull historical call and cost data and provide a projection for the police protection line at the next budget review; no change or vote was made at the workshop.
