Police budget centers on staffing and training costs; department seeks tools to aid prosecutions

Police Chief Scott Guinard told the joint Select Board and Budget Committee that salaries and benefits comprise roughly 89.2% of the department’s proposed budget and account for the bulk of the requested increase.

Chief Guinard said the largest single line increase reflects a new policy allowing officers to bank holiday time and receive a year‑end stipend in lieu of taking the holiday. Finance staff explained that stipends are not pensionable under the New Hampshire Retirement System, which reduces long‑term retirement costs; staff estimated the change ultimately saves the town roughly $30,000 compared with previous payout approaches.

The budget also reflects cost-of-living and merit increases and money to fill two remaining vacancies. Chief Guinard said the department has not been fully staffed in nearly a decade and recently filled positions, including hiring a certified officer relocating from Connecticut. He told members he expects overtime to decline as new officers complete training, but several committee members urged monitoring overtime costs over the next two years before making further adjustments to staffing or compensation plans.

Committee members asked about line items that rose sharply. Chief Guinard said vehicle maintenance rose about $10,000 as some repairs require dealership work; the department also built in a larger fitness incentive program to stay competitive with neighboring agencies. The fitness incentive line rose substantially on paper because the budget shows the program’s maximum possible payout if every eligible officer participated, though the chief said only a few officers typically seek the incentive.

The proposed budget includes a $10,400 increase for a device to download data from seized electronic devices, described by staff as necessary for prosecuting certain cases. Chief Guinard said a warrant is required before using the device, only certified officers will operate it, and "it is not a piece of equipment left laying around." Members pressed about safeguards and training; the chief said only two officers currently hold certification and that department procedures limit access.

The department also reported renegotiated school resource officer revenue from the Town of Sharon and projected cumulative department revenue of about $278,170 for the coming year. The Budget Committee and Select Board will continue reviewing the overall town budget in subsequent hearings.

The committee did not take a formal vote on the police budget at this meeting.