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FinCom reviews 4.5% police budget increase, flags recruitment and retention needs
Summary
Tisbury’s Finance and Advisory Committee reviewed a 4.5% increase in the Police Department’s FY27 budget, learned of a corrected COLA that reduced the salary line by $14,376, and discussed recruitment, tuition and retention measures as two recruits train in the academy.
The Tisbury Finance and Advisory Committee on Feb. 19 reviewed the Police Department’s proposed FY27 budget, which reflected a 4.5% overall increase. Chief Christopher Habekost reported a corrected cost-of-living adjustment of 3.2% that reduced the department’s salary line by $14,376 (from $469,340 to $463,651).
Habekost told the committee that recruitment is underway: two recruits are currently in the Police Academy and one candidate is in the hiring process and expected to start the academy in June. Committee members and department leaders discussed retention measures to limit turnover to neighboring towns with higher pay and different benefits, including spreading tuition reimbursement, signing retention agreements, and exploring inter-town reimbursement for academy costs.
The FinCom asked about overtime forecasting and noted that overtime was level-funded in FY27 in anticipation of the new hires. Members also discussed the balance between fair compensation and taxpayer burden, and recommended coordination between the Police Department and Facilities/DPW for building maintenance needs cited by the department.
