Springfield police budget up by 20 percent
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By Susan Smallheer Staff Writer - Published: January 11, 2009
SPRINGFIELD – Springfield Police Chief Douglas Johnston warned town officials this week that a new proposal from the Douglas administration would result in a major cost shift to the town. He said the plan would force the town to be fiscally responsible for the transportation of criminals.
In a budget session before the Springfield Select Board Thursday night, Johnston said because of a proposed cut in the state allocation for the sheriffs' departments, local police departments would become responsible for moving newly arrested people to jail and then to court arraignments.
Johnston said the Springfield police department makes more arrests in Windsor County than any other law enforcement agency. This is compounded by the distances between facilities: The Southern State Correctional Facility is located in Springfield and court arraignments take place in White River Junction.
"The intent is to take money away from the sheriffs. If (prisoners) are lodged overnight, we would have to bring them to court. Hopefully that won't happen," Johnston said.
Johnston's proposed budget for 2009 is $1.7 million budget, up $338,000 from the $1.3 million the town spent on the police force last year.
The 20 percent increase is largely due to the cost of maintaining the new police station on Clinton Street and a new salary system the select board adopted last year, which gives longtime employees who have reached the top of their pay grade an extra two grades for merit. All town employees receive a cost-of-living increase, and the Springfield police force, like most town departments, is unionized.
Johnston said he realized that the state, the town, as well as the country was in an economic crunch, "but what they're trying to do is place it back onto the local municipalities. They're looking at forcing municipalities to pay for this."
Johnston had also asked the board for an additional $65,000 to fix the new station's leaky roof. The station, which was converted from a former industrial building, has two leaks, one in the "Quonset hut" portion of the building, and another in the front of the building.
Town Manager Robert Forguites proposed eliminating the $65,000 in the capital budget for the roof repairs. He said the money would instead come from the roughly $200,000 left over from the $2 million bond issue that was approved by voters for the new police station and renovations to the town hall.
The renovations to the bottom floor of the town hall still haven't occurred, while the police moved into the new station last February after more than six months of renovations. The board recently appointed a committee to work with Forguites on the town hall renovations.
Johnston also said the Springfield schools are proposing a school resource officer for Springfield High School, but he said he wouldn't support the plan unless the school district would agree to pick up 75 percent of the cost. So far, it is offering to pay 50 percent.
"The need is there," the chief said.
Under the plan, the designated position for a drug detective would be converted to the school resource officer. The total cost of an officer with pay and benefits would be $70,000; the town's portion would be 25 percent, or $17,500, according to Forguites.
Johnston expressed concern that he would lose the drug detective slot if the school was forced to cut the school resource officer position. The Springfield schools have a long history of budget defeats.
The Springfield Select Board will continue budget discussions on Monday at the town hall. Contact Susan Smallheer at susan.smallheer@rutlandherald.com.
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