No change set for town police budget
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By SANDI SWITZER HERALD CORRESPONDENT - Published: December 10, 2009
WALLINGFORD – Law enforcement services will be level-funded in the next fiscal spending plan, as municipal officials delve into proposed budget figures to be considered by voters at town meeting in March.
The Wallingford Select Board agreed on Monday to budget $17,000 for Rutland County Sheriff's Department services, $3,250 for first constable expenses and $250 for animal control costs.
The $20,500 total comprises the public safety portion of the municipal spending plan, and is the same amount voters approved last March.
Board members agreed to level-fund the law enforcement budget after meeting with Rutland County Sheriff Stephen Benard, who indicated there would be no increase in the $38 hourly rate charged to towns.
Benard explained the department had written $16,000 in local traffic tickets, including $10,000 in speed violations in town. He said the sheriffs handled 86 cases in Wallingford this past year, ranging from burglary and vandalism to agency assists.
Over the next year, the Sheriff's Department would be involved in the organization of Neighborhood Watch programs and updating the department's Web site with the latest information on sheriff activities in town, information municipal officials can access at any time, according to Benard.
The sheriff urged each board member to consider participating in the department's "ride-along" program with a deputy to better understand the services available to the town.
In other budgetary matters, transfer station costs are expected to rise slightly from $91,000 to $93,500 in the next budget. The Select Board also agreed to budget $500 for special projects undertaken by the recently formed energy committee led by Tim Chila.
However, no decisions were made on the next recreation budget. After extensive conversations between board members and a representative from the recreation committee, Thomas Phillips, officials agreed to revisit the matter at their meeting later this month.
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