The Police Dept.'s current budget is approx $1.9 million. The budget for 2007 was comprised of approximately $1.6 million in levy funds, $200,000 in Police carryover, and $87,000 from the general fund. All of P.D. levy funds come from permanent levies, with the exception of $288,000 from a $1.9 mil 2 year renewal levy. The Dept. has been in the situation of renewing this levy every 2 years since 1987. The levy does not increase as the community grows. It brings in the same amount of funds today as it did in 1987.
Dilemma Facing the Department:
The department has stayed at the 16-17 officer range since the 2003 passage of the replacement levy. The passage of the levy did not significantly change the department's financial situation. It made the department almost entirely self-sufficient in that general fund money was not required with the exception of $25,000 per year. By this time the general fund was at a level that could not support the department at a higher staffing level. In May 2007, the P.D. went to the ballot in an attempt to replace the 2 year $1.9 mil levy with a permanent $1.9 - the issue failed. The board has indicated that they will place a $1.9 mil 5-year replacement levy on in November 2007. This replacement levy would generate approximately $347,949 in additional funds at a cost of $58.19 per year for a $100,000 home. (Auditor's figures are not permanent due to the number of evaluations that are being contested in the county. In May, a 1 mil levy was estimated to bring in $340,000. Within the last 2 weeks that figure has been adjusted down to $335,000. The Auditor's office felt that the final figure will be very close to $335,000.)
What this levy means to the Department:
Conservatively, the passage of this levy would mean that the department would be solvent for a minimum of 5 years. This levy would allow us to gradually hire 2-3 officers within the 1st year and begin to replace much needed equipment. The levy would also allow the department, for the first time since 1987, to develop long-range plans that could be implemented without fear of losing $288,000 every 2 years. Conservative projections based on present-day economic trends may allow the hiring of additional officers beyond that initial 2-3. Depending on the economy, additional money would not be needed for at least 5 years, with the possibility of pushing that out to 7 years.