Riley County Police Department budget
The Riley County Law Board agreed Thursday to publish the 2022 Riley County Police Department budget once the revenue neutral tax rate becomes available.
The proposed budget currently stands at about $23 million, up about 3.57 percent from the 2021 budget.
Among the reasons for the budget increase is a request for an additional court screener, which RCPD director Dennis Butler says stems from requirements for an additional court location due to the pandemic.
However, Riley County commissioner John Ford says RCPD may not need an additional court screener since pandemic-related policies continue to be lifted.
Other reasons for the increased budget include pay adjustments, an additional jail cook, a full-time payroll technician and increased costs for training and insurance.
The law board will hold a public hearing later this month once the budget is officially published.
To see the full budget presentation shown to the law board during Thursday’s meeting, click here.
2 percent pay adjustment
The law board authorized RCPD officials Thursday to pursue a 2 percent pay adjustment for RCPD employees.
Law Board member and Riley County Attorney Barry Wilkerson says the adjustment will help RCPD retain quality employees.
RCPD officials will first look to fund the adjustment through federal stimulus money and then use unused personnel funds if necessary.
The move is in line with a two percent pay adjustment the Riley County Commission authorized earlier this year for county employees.
It is also meant to make up for the 2021 budget’s lack of cost-of-living adjustments and merit-based raises.
The total cost of the adjustment is about $137,000.
