Marion City Council discusses budget for police car, personnel
Staff reporter
A slight increase is proposed in the 2007 City of Marion budget.
Marion City Council approved a proposal for the budget which shows an increase from $7,260,968 to $7,687,040 in expenses, at its regular meeting Monday.
Line items specifically discussed by the council included:
— Councilman Stacey Collett said he was concerned about the Police Department's budget. The proposed budget for 2007 is $294,182, an increase of $6,477. Since 2004, the budget has increased more than $18,000.
"I know the fifth officer was hired through a grant," Collett said. "Can we get by without him?"
Police Chief Michel Soyez said with the fifth officer, another officer was promoted to a detective position to work to clear cases.
"I came back to Marion to serve and keep Marion safe," he said.
More than $45,000 is spent for operation of the department. The remainder of the budget goes to benefits and personnel costs.
"Fuel prices have killed us," Soyez said.
The department could implement a fuel savings plan but was concerned about reducing patrols.
Business burglaries have been reduced because of increased patrols, Soyez said.
Councilman Bill Holdeman said he had received complaints from taxpayers that officers weren't patrolling during the day.
"Law enforcement is 80 percent paper work and 20 percent field work," Soyez said.
The detective needs to be on duty during the day to attend court and conduct interviews. The police chief needs to be on day duty to oversee the department and meet the public.
"What we've done has worked," he said.
— Holdeman asked what percentage the city pays for the Kansas Police and Fire Retirement program. City Administrator David Mayfield responded 12 percent of base salaries, which is five percent more than KPERS for the other city employees.
Holdeman asked whether the retirement plan transferred with the employee; Mayfield said it could.
— Collett asked whether buying used highway patrol cars was an efficient use of public funds compared with purchasing new vehicles.
Soyez said he was willing to try something else and agreed that there were times when repairs of used vehicles would offset the difference in price for new.
— Holdeman said he didn't agree with a 4.1 percent increase for salaried employees. Mayor Martin Tice said the pay increases were budgeted but would not necessarily be dispersed.
— Marion City Library now will receive its annual appropriation in one transfer. The Library Board then will be responsible for all purchases and payments instead of going through the city as it had previously been done.
See page 15 of today's Marion County Record for the official legal notice of the budget.
A budget hearing for public comment will be at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 14 in the city building.
