The Temple-Greenville Police Department nearly disbanded this year, after both sides of the negotiating table were unable to reach an agreement on several points. Voters in both towns, however, resoundingly declared that the department should stay together, rather than pursue the more expensive option of establishing separate departments.
The department is funded based on the populations of both towns — 39 percent of costs being paid by Temple and 61 percent covered by Greenville. Temple officials wanted to pay a slightly smaller share, based on call volume rather than population.
Greenville, however, wanted to have an additional voting member on the police board, due to its larger share of the cost. Greenville also requested that Temple pay for some or all of the administrative costs, currently paid for solely by Greenville. Temple did not want to take on those costs.
Ultimately, both towns put two options on their warrants – one to separate the police departments and establish their own, and one to stay together.
The proposed joint budget for the Temple-Greenville Police Department was $594,887, with Greenville’s share would be $362,881, and Temple’s share would be $232,006.
In their articles that would have split the department, Greenville’s plan requested a $530,000 operating budget, and would staff a part-time, 24-hour a week police chief, with an additional $50,000 in start-up costs.
Temple’s single-department proposal is $25,0000 to $30,000 higher than its current share of $232,006.
But when it came time for a vote during Town Meeting in Temple and Greenville, residents in both towns agreed to extend the department’s contract by two years, keeping their joint force together.
Ashley Saari can be reached at 924-7172, ext 244 or at asaari@ledgertranscript.com.