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Police recruitment, academy start date and benefit costs discussed at Northfield budget workshop
Summary
Council and the police chief discussed recruiting challenges, academy timing and the budget impact of benefits and retiree costs; CFO said benefits for retired officers currently total about $63,000 annually.
Police staffing and recruitment took center stage as council considered adding a patrol officer and funding academy costs. Police Chief Pollak told council "the academy wouldn’t start until May," and that the department has scheduled a PT test next week, reflecting improved recruitment but persistent difficulty finding trained officers.
Councilmembers debated whether to fund a new patrol position amid benefits and pension pressures. CFO Stollenwerk noted prior retiree costs persist—"we pay $63,000.00 for benefits for retired officers"—and cautioned that while salaries might be covered, benefits and long-term pension costs factor into hiring decisions. Councilmembers agreed to evaluate overtime and officer-in-charge pay as part of the broader staffing review.
