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Council weighs one immediate police hire versus a multi‑officer package funded by a tax increase
Summary
Staff presented a fully loaded per‑officer cost of about $172,500 and showed three officers would cost about $516,000 annually; staff estimated funding three officers solely by property-tax increase would require roughly a 10.39% increase, and council asked staff to seek ways to fund one hire now without triggering a truth‑in‑taxation notice.
Council reviewed staffing-cost alternatives after staff compiled numbers for adding officers. "you could see the total cost per officer at 172. 500," a staff member said while walking through page 25 of the packet. Peter confirmed the per-officer figure and framed alternatives: hiring one officer now (staff estimated about $172,500 fully loaded) or hiring three officers would cost approximately $516,000 annually.
Staff warned that if the council funded three officers entirely through property-tax increases, it would equate to about a 10.39% property-tax increase. Council directed staff to attempt to find one position in the current budget ("sharpen our pencils") so the city could add one officer without changing the truth-in-taxation notices; if not possible, the council discussed a phased approach or committing to funding through next year's truth-in-taxation process.
Ending: Council asked staff to produce a refined funding plan for adding one officer now and to present options—midyear amendment or next-year tax-notice funding—at a future meeting.
