The Riley County Law Board considered the first draft of the Riley County Police Department’s proposed 2024 budget during their Monday meeting.
RCPD Administration Captain Brad Jager presented the proposed Budget 1, which includes the addition of a recently proposed general counsel position.
Jager also presented proposed Budget 2, which has a realized cost of $27,204,720. The Budget 2 total increase is identical to Budget 1 but does not include the $95,288 allocation for the general counsel position.
Budget 1 is 8.98% higher and Budget 2 is 8.6% higher than the 2023 approved budget.
The largest contributor to the total budget increase is an 8% cost of living adjustment for employee salaries.
RCPD Finance Manager Jennifer Reifschneider,
Additionally, nearly $900,000 of the budget increase can be attributed to the continued implementation of the 2021 Salary Survey. Half of the salary survey was implemented in the 2023 budget, and the department proposed implementing half of the remaining amount in 2024.
Board Member Kaleb James said he struggles to support both the 8% cost of living adjustment as well as the implementation of the 2021 Salary Survey.
A majority of the board agreed with James’ remarks, and Law Board Member and Riley County Commissioner John Ford suggested considering the cost of living adjustments being implemented by non-governmental entities.
After the discussion, Jager agreed to consider and analyze an approximately 6% COLA and will present the updated budget for approval before the end of next month.
RCPD’s presentation for the 2024 budget can be found here in the April 17th agenda packet.
