Politics & Government

Amherst Police Budget Hit By Mandatory Increases

A rise in required medical and retirement costs have increased their FY14 budget outlook.

The Amherst Police Department is expects to see a 1.59 percent increase in their proposed budget for FY14.

New Amherst Police Chief Mark Reams presented his department’s budget for the next fiscal year, which includes large mandated increases in both health insurance and retirement costs. The total increase in the proposed budget is $33,906, including reductions made to offset costs.

Reams projected a $30,150 increase in health insurance and a $54,938 increase in Group II Retirement costs. Dental costs are also expected to increase by $299 in the next fiscal year.

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The mandatory costs are joined by other increases that Reams said were necessary for his department. These include physicals, ammunition software licensing and equipping the new police cruisers.

The cruisers will require a projected $1,450 more in the budget for replacement tires, and an additional $1,600 for prisoner transport cage, radio console and other equipment that cannot be transferred from the older vehicles.

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Total increases in the proposed FY14 budget add up to $90,768.

Reams has found areas of the budget to cut in order to offset the additional spending needed in the next fiscal year. This includes reductions in sick leave incentive, vacation buyout longevity bonuses, full-time officer wages, overtime, telephone, heat and equipment rental.

These reductions add up to $56,862, with the largest cut put on the full-time officer wages line. Reams said this is due to the recent departure of experienced personnel, like former police chief Peter Lyon, and the introduction of more junior officers.

Amherst selectmen said they were pleased to see reductions large enough to offset the spike in mandatory costs to the department.

Reams added that the budget for communications has decreased by .57 percent.


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