Milford Council Passes Budget; Hires Officers
October 15, 2020 at 3:12 a.m.
Milford Council Passes Budget; Hires Officers
By Denise Federow-
The 2021 budget is a $25,838 increase over the 2020 budget, or 4.10%, but a lesser percentage of increase than the 2020 budget, which was 6.8% higher than the 2019 budget. The estimated tax rate is $1.186 per $100 assessed valuation.
Council President Doug Ruch abstained from voting. He explained he’s abstaining due to his involvement with the fire department and the fire department budget is part of the general budget.
Town Marshal Derek Kreider gave a proposal to the council for a change to the pay matrix for officers.
“In order to be competitive to hire officers in the future, we need to raise it,” he said, adding that he checked with departments in the surrounding areas to come up with his proposal.
He proposed an annual salary of $41,000 for new hires, an increase from the current $39,000; $43,000 for probationary pay and $45,000 for officer base – a $2,000 increase at each level.
“To get qualified police officers, this is a small step in the right direction,” Kreider said.
Ruch asked if this could occur in 2020 since they already have the 2020 budget set. Clerk-Treasurer Tricia Gall said yes because they are new hires and their benefits won’t kick in until 90 days. There will also be an upcoming retirement of an officer with over 20 years of service so the difference in pay will be a significant savings, according to Kreider.
The council approved the increase to the pay matrix.
Kreider also received approval to hire two new full-time officers to replace two officers who are leaving. He was hiring Travis Bays to replace Marcus Boyer, who resigned several weeks ago, and Dallas Rice to replace Brandon Shipp, who’ll be leaving Oct. 30 for the Syracuse Police Department.
Kreider said both Bays and Rice were already reserve officers and he said he feels “both will be welcome additions.”
Bays was sworn in and Rice will be sworn in at the November meeting.
Kreider also received approval to hire Brian Bradley as a reserve officer to replace the two reserve officers who were becoming full-time officers. Bradley was working as a Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department reserve officer.
“I believe he’ll be a valuable asset to the community,” Kreider said.
The council approved the new hires.
In a related matter, the council later approved an amendment to the salary ordinance, revising it to show the additional pay for new deputy marshals to $41,000.
Gall presented ordinance 2020-8, creating a fund for building code enforcement. She told the council that the city attorney suggested setting up the account to receive the funds from fines and penalties and to pay the building inspector and related legal expenses out of that fund. She said after calling the county, she received $18,000 for that fund.
The council passed the ordinance.
Gall also received quotes from LWG, the town’s financial advisor, for a water rate study at a cost of $5,500. The town hasn’t had a water rate study done in five years. The quote for a wastewater study is $2,500 because they can review the last one.
“It’ll help us understand the last (wastewater rate) study,” Gall said, especially since someone else is doing it.
Council Member Ken Long said, “The rates are a lot less than Baker Tilly and the quality of work they’ve done for us so far has been good.”
Gall also said the town is going to receive $51,001 in Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security funds that can be reimbursed for police wages.
The 2021 budget is a $25,838 increase over the 2020 budget, or 4.10%, but a lesser percentage of increase than the 2020 budget, which was 6.8% higher than the 2019 budget. The estimated tax rate is $1.186 per $100 assessed valuation.
Council President Doug Ruch abstained from voting. He explained he’s abstaining due to his involvement with the fire department and the fire department budget is part of the general budget.
Town Marshal Derek Kreider gave a proposal to the council for a change to the pay matrix for officers.
“In order to be competitive to hire officers in the future, we need to raise it,” he said, adding that he checked with departments in the surrounding areas to come up with his proposal.
He proposed an annual salary of $41,000 for new hires, an increase from the current $39,000; $43,000 for probationary pay and $45,000 for officer base – a $2,000 increase at each level.
“To get qualified police officers, this is a small step in the right direction,” Kreider said.
Ruch asked if this could occur in 2020 since they already have the 2020 budget set. Clerk-Treasurer Tricia Gall said yes because they are new hires and their benefits won’t kick in until 90 days. There will also be an upcoming retirement of an officer with over 20 years of service so the difference in pay will be a significant savings, according to Kreider.
The council approved the increase to the pay matrix.
Kreider also received approval to hire two new full-time officers to replace two officers who are leaving. He was hiring Travis Bays to replace Marcus Boyer, who resigned several weeks ago, and Dallas Rice to replace Brandon Shipp, who’ll be leaving Oct. 30 for the Syracuse Police Department.
Kreider said both Bays and Rice were already reserve officers and he said he feels “both will be welcome additions.”
Bays was sworn in and Rice will be sworn in at the November meeting.
Kreider also received approval to hire Brian Bradley as a reserve officer to replace the two reserve officers who were becoming full-time officers. Bradley was working as a Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department reserve officer.
“I believe he’ll be a valuable asset to the community,” Kreider said.
The council approved the new hires.
In a related matter, the council later approved an amendment to the salary ordinance, revising it to show the additional pay for new deputy marshals to $41,000.
Gall presented ordinance 2020-8, creating a fund for building code enforcement. She told the council that the city attorney suggested setting up the account to receive the funds from fines and penalties and to pay the building inspector and related legal expenses out of that fund. She said after calling the county, she received $18,000 for that fund.
The council passed the ordinance.
Gall also received quotes from LWG, the town’s financial advisor, for a water rate study at a cost of $5,500. The town hasn’t had a water rate study done in five years. The quote for a wastewater study is $2,500 because they can review the last one.
“It’ll help us understand the last (wastewater rate) study,” Gall said, especially since someone else is doing it.
Council Member Ken Long said, “The rates are a lot less than Baker Tilly and the quality of work they’ve done for us so far has been good.”
Gall also said the town is going to receive $51,001 in Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security funds that can be reimbursed for police wages.
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092