Boston Heights police department feels budget crunch
BOSTON HEIGHTS - After more than a year of revenue shortfalls, the village cut back on the number of hours police officers patrol village roads starting July 19, saving an estimated $22,000 a year.
Village clerk-treasurer Carol Zeman said the cuts took place because of a $74,000 revenue shortfall, which began in 2003.
Officials say causes for the shortfall include dwindling motel tax revenue, a lower income tax rate compared to surrounding communities and decreased revenue assistance from the state.
Zeman said the budget for the police department this year was originally set at $548,600, but was reduced this week to $526,326.
Originally, officials had planned to cut the budget to $510,185. But, Zeman said, when Village Council members gave up their own salaries, totaling $6,137, and transferred $10,000 from a street department line item to the police department, it increased the department's available revenue.
Prior to the cuts, three officers were on duty per shift, Zeman said.
Now, Varga and one officer will be on duty per shift, saving the village $14,800 this year, Zeman said.
Varga will be responding to calls while he is at the office for the first time in four years.
Varga, who has been chief of police for 18 years, said he and the village's five police officers will work eight-hour shifts Mondays through Saturdays each week, instead of working 12-hour shifts, which used to be the norm.
Varga said there will be only one police officer working on Sundays in the village.
"We're going to do our job, but it's going to be tough," Varga said.
The department's auxiliary police officers, who cover full-time police officer shifts when needed, also were affected by the budget crunch.
Zeman said the village will save $8,000 by having fewer auxiliary officers on duty and cutting their hours.
In addition, the department will save money by not having to pay for benefits for those auxiliary officers who previously worked full time, Varga said.
The police officers' new hours will continue at least until the end of the year.
To help alleviate the budget crunch, Zeman said the village plans to put an income tax increase levy on the November ballot.
If it passes, the issue would increase the village's income tax from 1.5 percent to 2 percent and would generate $130,000 annually starting July 1, 2005, according to Zeman.
If the income tax increase does not pass, Varga said there will be "more cuts in the police department and the village also will be forced to make cuts to the fire department's first responder program."
Varga said the police department services 1,200 Boston Heights residents.
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