Plans are afoot at Burlington City Hall to hire an additional cop.
Chief Doug Beaird told the City Council at last(Mon) night’s budget work session that he’s down to 41 sworn officers…with another retirement on the way…and that’s made any sort of proactive policing very difficult. Councilman Bob Fleming asked how much it would cost to hire another patrolman and he was told between $75,000 and $80,000 a year.
City Manager Jim Ferneau says the Council could pay for the new position by raising property taxes 11 cents…or by cutting one-or-more other budgets. He used Saturday bus service and the Memorial Auditorium’s booking fund as possibilities.
Chief Beaird and Sheriff Mike Johnstone will be our guests on “The Talk Show,” this Thursday morning at 10 on KBUR.)
