Rockport workshop: police budget trims contracted chief costs but keeps staffing boost to cut overtime

Rockport’s select board and budget committee heard a detailed presentation on the police department budget, where officials said the net decrease of about 2.6% reflects the town’s decision to stop reimbursing Camden for a shared chief and to redirect that funding to a new patrol position intended to lower overtime costs.

Interim Chief Chris Young told the committee the department has only been fully staffed since February and that “traffic enforcement has increased by 60%” compared with the prior year, a result officials said reflects the department’s ability to expand targeted enforcement now that vacancies are filled. Committee members pressed for granular detail on personnel spending after staff identified approximately $799,000 in personnel services in the department’s line items and noted a three‑year collective bargaining agreement covering police wages as the framework for upcoming negotiations.

The town’s finance staff said Rockport previously paid Camden roughly $82,000 a year to share a chief; eliminating that contract is the single largest driver of the department’s reduced net budget. Finance manager Megan explained that Camden invoiced monthly for wages, benefits and retirement and that those line items were reallocated in Rockport’s proposed budget. “This year we would have paid about $82,000 to Camden,” Megan said when asked for a ballpark figure.

Committee members and staff also discussed equipment and one‑time capital items. Greenlighting a chief’s vehicle was flagged as a separate decision: Chief Young described seeking a used program vehicle and estimated an all‑in cost of about $37,848 for a roughly 2023 Ford Explorer plus modest upfitting, saying he does not need a brand‑new car. Body‑worn camera service and lease costs (Motorola/Axium) were discussed; staff said the recurring service contract is roughly $9,000 per year and that one additional camera would be needed if the extra patrol position is added.

Training and hiring costs drew repeated questions. Staff noted a lateral hire who recently attended another department’s academy could carry a buyout cost near $50,000 if the town must reimburse the previous agency, while sending a recruit to the academy costs closer to $4,000 plus the expense of field training and overtime to cover shifts while the recruit is in training. Town staff described a cycle in which sending new hires to the academy increases short‑term overtime; the proposed schedule changes and the hybrid seventh position are intended to create overlap and reduce that overtime burden over time.

Committee members asked whether Rockport has a legal duty to provide 24/7 coverage; staff answered there is no statutory obligation but rather a local service choice. If Rockport were not staffed at particular hours, 911 dispatch would route calls to the Knox County Sheriff’s Office or the state police, staff said, and county coverage could carry a price tag if requested regularly.

The workshop is not a formal meeting and no votes were taken. The committee indicated a general willingness to proceed with the police budget as presented pending follow‑up on a few clarifying items — chiefly a line‑by‑line breakdown showing how the 7.2% personnel change is composed (steps, COLA, sign‑on stipends and the effect of removing the Camden contract) and confirmation of the capital cost for the chief’s vehicle. The town will return requested details to the committee in advance of the next workshop.