Police present budget
After a series of budget workshop presentations throughout October, the 2014 financial picture for Montgomery Township has become much clearer.
Among the notable changes proposed for 2014: the township’s Police Department is asking the township’s board of supervisors for permission to add a new police canine and two patrol cars next year, and its Administration department plans to add a new Human Resource specialist position, according to Finance Director Shannon Drosnock and Police Chief Scott Bendig.
“The 2014 budget has been prepared with the conservative fiscal policies that the board has governed by, to continue to maintain low taxes for the property owners of Montgomery Township,” Drosnock said.
Bendig led his department’s budget presentation in a workshop meeting Oct. 30, and police expenses are projected to increase by just over three percent, roughly $196,230, in 2014 over 2013, largely due to wage adjustments and health care benefit costs.
The department’s current roster will remain largely the same in 2014, Bendig said, and he’s proposing to fill two expected vacancies as they occur in 2014 - which he anticipates will include one retiring human officer and one retiring police K-9.
New police capital expenses projected for 2014 include two marked and equipped patrol cars totaling an estimated $73,000, and Bendig said that after research and testing of several models currently available, the department will look to buy Dodge Chargers as its new patrol vehicle.
The department’s also proposing to spend $15,000 for a new K-9 team that would keep the department at three human-dog teams after the expected retirement of police canine Jammer, and Bendig said Friday that the department will explore various avenues to fund the purchase and training if the township supervisors approve adding the third canine. Smaller proposed police expenditures include five replacement computers and ten software upgrades totaling roughly $8,500, along with requests for upgraded tactical equipment, furniture, and an illuminated entrance sign. Montgomery County’s replacement of police radios is scheduled to go online in 2015, Bendig said, and the department is “currently assessing its equipment needs” for when details regarding costs and types of radios are released.
The township’s Administration department is planning to increase its budget by eight percent over 2013 levels largely due to the planned hiring of a Human Resource Specialist, according to Drosnock.