Rindge voters in March will decide whether or not to support the town’s quest for an eighth full-time police officer.
While funds to pay for an eighth officer have been included in the proposed $3.9 million budget, they are among the items not included in the $3.8 million default budget.
Regardless of the budget vote, Selectmen have expressed their interest in keeping the eighth officer, meaning funds would likely have to be cut from other areas in the town’s budget. The officer has already been hired.
Article 16 asks voters to approve the acceptance of a $125,000 COPS grant, which would subsidize a portion of the officer’s salary for three years, with the requirement that the town must keep the officer on staff for four years. In year one, the grant would subsidize $54,000 of the $57,944 needed to fund the officer.
Articles six and eight ask voters to enter a lease agreement for a $425,000 fire truck. Both articles would be five-year agreements, with article six being a long-term lease/purchase agreement and article eight being a lease/purchase agreement with an escape clause.
Article six offers a slightly better interest rate and would become a part of the budget if approved. Article eight would need to be voted on for each year of the agreement.
The fire department is also asking to take $35,000 from the Fire Department Equipment Capital Reserve Account to purchase a fire prevention vehicle. The department currently has a 2008 Dodge Charger, which is in a state of disrepair.