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Board approves temporary 18-month payroll increase for police and village staff
Summary
Trustees voted to authorize an 18-month payroll increase for full- and part-time police officers and village staff to help retention, to be funded from police-department surplus; trustees discussed long-term financing and a potential referendum.
The Sleepy Hollow Village Board voted to authorize temporary payroll increases for full- and part-time police officers and other village staff, to be funded from surplus balances in the police payroll budget for an estimated 12–18 month period.
Chief Parham recommended the increase, saying the department needs short-term relief to retain officers and that the bump will position the village more competitively in upcoming union negotiations. "This is a Band Aid, but it's also moving us closer to where we ultimately are going to need to be," the chief said, describing the proposal as a retention measure.
Trustees discussed the limits of using surplus funds, the need to avoid piecemeal budgeting and the plan to pursue broader long-term financing options — including an April 2027 referendum proposal — to sustain salaries over time. Trustees acknowledged the funding is available in the current budget to cover the temporary increases and emphasized that the measure is not permanent.
A motion to authorize the payroll increases was moved by Trustee D'Atley, seconded by Trustee Maguire, and approved by roll call. The board directed staff to include the longer-term salary proposal in upcoming appropriations work and to prepare materials if a referendum is pursued.
The authorization covers the short-term payroll increases only; any ongoing or permanent adjustments would require future budget decisions or voter approval.
