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Police pay and staffing drive material-services spike in recommended budget
Summary
Committee members pressed staff on a large increase in police materials and services; presenter said the boost reflects step increases, COLAs and insurance adjustments under a collective bargaining agreement in place through 06/30/2026 and the budget includes one new police officer and a utility worker.
Members of the budget committee asked why the police department's materials and services lines appear to jump markedly in the proposed budget. The presenter said the increase is driven by salary assumptions (cost-of-living adjustments, step increases and insurance) and by applying projected wage changes that are already negotiated in the existing collective bargaining agreement.
The presenter noted the current union agreement provides for steps and COLAs through 06/30/2026; to be conservative he applied similar assumptions citywide for budgeting. Committee members asked whether a market study had informed salary assumptions; the presenter said no formal market study was done and that the increases are largely cost-of-living and step-related assumptions.
Staffing additions: the recommended budget includes two new positions: one public-works utility worker and one police officer, both budgeted in anticipation of filling through recruitment. The presenter said the city will advertise for the positions and complete pre-employment checks before making offers.
Next steps: committee members asked staff to identify payroll distributions across funds and to provide more detail on the police materials and services line to justify the change before final council action.
