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City manager proposes funding a 32nd officer; council agrees to pursue numbers for a 33rd
Summary
At a budget workshop, staff reported police personnel costs and a shortfall that prevents fully funding an earlier 33-officer target. City manager proposed finding about $61,000 to add a 32nd officer and will return with detailed budget trade-offs tomorrow; council kept the 33rd position as a priority to pursue later.
The City Council debated whether to restore two previously requested police officer positions during a budget workshop that centered on personnel costs and competing priorities.
City manager (S2) told council the police consolidated budget projects a 6.9% operating increase driven largely by personnel costs tied to a new union contract, retirement and insurance. He said the current draft funds 31 full‑salary officers and that recent retirements and trainees in the academy complicate the staff count.
“We're only funding 31,” S2 said, adding that he believes staff can find money to fund a 32nd officer but that a 33rd would be difficult without additional cuts or revenue. After the meeting break, S2 quantified personnel costs: a fully certified new officer costs about $97,160 all‑in, and the marginal cost to move from 31 to 32 was roughly $61,004; moving to 33 would add about $158,528 in additional salary costs.
Council members emphasized public safety trade‑offs and asked how staffing levels affect overtime and service. One council member (S8) said they would not be “uncomfortable” if staff could find the roughly $60,000 to add the 32nd officer now and pursue the 33rd later via a budget exception or reserves. Several council members urged preserving the 33rd slot as a ‘place‑card’ to be filled when funds allow.
Police officials (S7) and the city manager described the timing implications: recruits in the academy will graduate over the coming months, and retirements slated for August and October change headcount and cost calculations. Staff also noted that some cost savings are already embedded where retirees’ pay has been replaced by entry‑level salaries.
Council requested a short finance break during the workshop so staff and finance could run numbers. The city manager agreed to produce a revised analysis by the next meeting day, telling members he was “confident we can get to 32” but that “33 is gonna push a little bit.”
The council did not take a formal vote; instead, members directed staff to identify specific reductions or reallocations to cover the 32nd position and to return with updated numbers tomorrow. The budget workshop will resume with those figures before the city finalizes its tentative millage and forwards the budget to the budget committee.
