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Cheverly police budget rises amid pension and mandate costs; department seeks grants for encrypted radios
Summary
Chiefs told council personnel and pension costs now drive most of the police budget, with a $240,000 pension increase and ongoing body‑worn camera contract costs; the department is pursuing state and federal grants to fund an encrypted‑radio upgrade estimated at roughly $500,000.
The Cheverly Police Department told the Town Council on May 6 that salary and benefit costs account for about 87% of its proposed operating budget, leaving just 13% for day‑to‑day operations. The department’s leadership highlighted a roughly $240,000 increase in pension obligations for sworn officers — a roughly 47% rise compared with prior budgeting — that is the largest single driver of the increase over last year.
Chief/Deputy Chief (speaker 9) said the department has been able to absorb some event and community‑engagement costs through donations and partner support (holiday village, Halloween event, Public Safety Day), but mandated items are increasing recurring costs. The town pays about $62,000 annually for a five‑year contract covering body‑worn cameras and in‑car cameras; the chief said that cost is likely to rise at renegotiation. The department also must budget for biannual psychological assessments, annual physicals and mental‑health support that the General Assembly required in 2021; the chief described those provisions as unfunded mandates that add to the operating burden.
On equipment and interoperability, the police department reported it is seeking state and federal grant funding to support a county‑wide move toward encrypted radios. The chief estimated a town share of about $500,000 to retrofit radios and related infrastructure if grant funding is not secured. The department has submitted applications and said state and congressional staff are following up on allocation and appropriations.
Council members asked for clarifications about overtime, staffing levels and WMATA and other reimbursable overtime arrangements; finance staff confirmed an adjustment to WMATA reimbursements in the revenue projections. The chief said the department requested two additional sworn positions in the budget (to reach a proposed 22 sworn officers) and has one frozen detective position in the current proposal.
What happens next: the police department and finance staff will continue to refine revenue offsets (reimbursements and WMATA administrative fees) and the council will consider those figures in the packet the administration will publish next week.
