Ashland Police Department asks for budget increase; looks to increase salaries
The Ashland Board of Aldermen reviewed its police department's proposed budget during its Tuesday night budget work session.
The board is currently in the process of listening to the head of the department to review its fiscal year 2024 budget, as it works to finalize its preliminary budget.
The department is looking to increase its current salaries and benefits to account for pay increases by 32%. The increase would amount to $525,990.40.
The increase accounts for its current positions which include.
- The chief of police
- Police sergeant
- Six current full-time officers
- Three part-time officers
- Police clerk
The increase would also cover the salary and benefits for the addition of a new full-time officer.
"Currently, we are funding positions for me, one police sergeant, however the budget that we are talking about tonight included a proposal for a seventh police officer's full-time position," Police Chief Gabe Edwards said.
The starting pay would increase to $21.03 an hour to "stay competitive," Edwards said.
The department has had recent staffing shortage that led to Ashland police to work on-call during night hours. City officials announced in December in a Facebook video that the change came at "the brink of a staffing crisis within the police department," due to injuries and a vacancy.
The budget would also go towards funding equipment, the cost of fuel, and training. This includes a $13,000 increase to its officer's uniform and personal equipment upgrades and replacements.
"We've got at least two sets of body armor that I can think of off the top of my head," Edwards said. "That has expired and needs to be replaced, and we got uniforms that are wearing out and got holes in it."
Ashland Treasurer Shelly Martin said the budget the board reviewed Wednesday is still in its early stages. The board has two more workshops before it will review the preliminary budget.
