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Committee trims Danville police budget by $36,910; vote splits 3-2 amid surprise over prior pay increases
Summary
The Danville Budget Committee reorganized police compensation lines and enacted a net $36,910 reduction to the police budget on a 3-2 vote Jan. 6, 2026; one member said the raises in question had already been given, a point not resolved in the minutes.
The Danville Budget Committee voted 3-2 on Jan. 6, 2026, to approve the Police Department’s FY2026 budget at $1,234,474 after reallocating several pay lines and implementing a net reduction of $36,910.
Chairperson Rob Collins explained the reorganization: several part-time lines were created to separate part-time compensation from full-time pay for clearer calculation of FICA and NHRS. The new lines—PD Training Labor (P/T), Prosecution/Court (P/T) and PD Overtime (P/T)—reflect figures the Chief of Police provided, and Collins said the transfers to those codes produced the net decrease cited. Collins moved to approve the reorganized police budget; the motion passed with Collins, Sue Overstreet and Mary Reedy voting yes and Joe Hester and Dave Drislane voting no.
The vote followed a brief dispute about whether the police had already received the raises listed in the proposed budget. Joe Hester, the Board of Selectmen representative, said that "the police have already received the increases presented to the BC as proposed increases for the FY26 budget," a statement the minutes record as a surprise to other members. The transcript does not include a recorded rebuttal or confirmation from the Chief or staff on that point, leaving the claim unresolved in the minutes.
Why it matters: the police budget represents a large share of municipal spending, and how compensation is recorded affects retirement and payroll calculations. Committee members cited FY25 spending and the Chief's figures when adjusting lines; the reallocation was described as net neutral to the total dollars moved among codes but produced the stated net reduction through other adjustments.
Next steps: the committee approved the overall default budget and will hold a public hearing Jan. 14; committee members expect further review of worksheets Collins will circulate prior to a follow-up meeting on Jan. 13.
Attribution: Collns (first reference spelled Rob Collins) is recorded as the chair making the motion; Joe Hester is recorded as the Board of Selectmen representative objecting to the timing/characterization of increases. No direct quote from the Chief of Police appears in the minutes to confirm the figures presented.
