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Cheverly leaders review police FY2027 budget as pension and staffing costs rise
Summary
Town of Cheverly officials reviewed a Police Department FY2027 budget proposal that would add a detective, a detective sergeant and an officer, shift vehicles into the capital program and accommodate a large state-driven pension increase; staff said automated-enforcement revenue offsets some costs.
Mayor Michael Watson convened a special Cheverly council meeting on an April evening to hear the Police DepartmentFY2027 budget presentation and questions from council members.
Deputy Chief Jen opened the presentation with a reading of the department mission and a breakdown of first-year hiring costs, saying the townfaces an estimated initial per-officer investment of about $260,000 when one-time equipment, training and certification expenses are included. "We are committed to safeguarding our neighborhoods, maintaining dependable infrastructure, enhancing the overall quality of life for all who live, work, and visit," the deputy chief said as she outlined staffing and training plans.
The department reported it is currently staffed at 18 sworn positions and described retention strategies including competitive pay, quality equipment and career-development opportunities. Officials proposed adding a detective, a detective sergeant and one patrol officer in FY2027; staff estimated the two investigative/supervisory positions plus the officer would cost the town about $185,000 in total.
A significant driver of the FY2027 increase is a state pension contribution. Presenters said the LEOPS pension payment was budgeted at $275,000 for FY2026, actuals as of February were about $459,000, and the FY2027 proposed pension line is $514,000. Chief and finance staff said the gap reflected an underestimation by the state and higher staffing levels. "When you take the entire total, that entire total is $389,500 in increases in the budget, FY27 over FY26," the chief said when enumerating pension, workers' comp, payroll taxes, and health-insurance growth.
Staff summarized other personnel-related changes: workers' compensation is projected at about $185,000, payroll taxes and Social Security about $195,000, and health insurance roughly $75,000 higher than FY26. The presentation highlighted three salary-related categories (field training pay, midnight-shift differential, holiday pay) that had been absorbed in FY26 and were shown separately in FY27 for transparency.
On revenues, the department reported automated-enforcement programs (red-light and speed cameras) produced total revenue of $1,021,950 and net revenue of $563,963 through Dec. 31, and staff said the town is issuing a request for proposals to improve image quality and program efficiency. "This is a balancing act with public safety being our primary focus," the chief said, noting the RFP is meant to improve citation quality and reduce dismissals that erode program effectiveness.
On capital, Town Administrator Mr. Galloway said he will place $125,000 in the capital outlay budget to fund five lease-upfitted vehicles; moving vehicle purchases into capital would allow the funds to carry from year to year rather than revert to the general fund. Staff described a lease program and local maintenance agreements that officials said will reduce operating maintenance costs.
Overall, staff projected a police-department FY27 increase in the neighborhood of $715,000 to $720,000 over FY26. The departmentis targeting coming in roughly $200,000 in the black for the police budget, which officials said would help the town's overall finances even if the municipality as a whole remains close to break-even.
Deputy Chief Jen also described planned community-facing programs and training: a Cadet program with applications opening May 1, virtual-reality training for the mayor and council, CPR/AED classes, situational-awareness courses and a crisis communications course for agencies in the region.
Council members asked clarifying questions about line items and regional comparators. Council member Littloy asked whether similar jurisdictions maintain detectives; staff replied that most neighboring municipalities do and noted the town code includes a detective requirement. Council member Wade thanked the department for creative ways to reduce costs and for transparency in the presentation.
There were no public comments during the meeting. Mayor Watson reminded the council of a general-government budget meeting scheduled for the next week and the town's regular April meeting on April 9. The council adjourned by vote.
