Hillsboro applies for grant for police officer funding
Lead Summary
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
The city of Hillsboro has voted to apply for a grant that could lead to funds for an additional officer with the Hillsboro Police Department.
By city statute, the HPD is short approximately five officers because budget constraints prevented the city from hiring new officers following the retirements of several officers in 2010 and 2011.
Legislation authorizing Hillsboro Mayor Dick Zink to apply for the funds was introduced to the Hillsboro City Council during their regular meeting May 9.
The grant, through the U.S. Department of Justice, The COPS (Community Oriented Policing Services) Hiring program, "is designed to advance public safety through community policing by addressing the full-time sworn officer needs of state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies nationwide. CHP provides funds directly to law enforcement agencies to hire new and/or rehire career law enforcement officers, and to increase their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts. Available CHP funding in FY2011 will be just over $200 million."
The deadline for the grant is May 25.
The grant would provide 100-percent funding for entry-levy salary and benefits for three years, with the condition that the city continue to employe the officer for at least one year after the funding ends. There are no matching dollars required to apply.
The anticipated cost of an entry-level officer is $38,168, working 2,080 hours over the course of the year at a 40-hour workweek. The grant also includes $9,264 for payroll taxes, and more than $16,000 for fringe benefits. The city would be responsible for overtime hours and uniforms. Hillsboro Auditor Gary Lewis said $1,000 was estimated for uniform costs. Total cost for the grant is $63,783 for one year.
According to the legislation, "the budget will allow for increased costs to be included in the second and third year of the application. The objective of the grant is to increase the capacity of law enforcement and to implement community policing strategies that will strengthen partnerships for safer communities and enhance law enforcements capacity to prevent, solve and control crime."
Zink said that cities with more than 25 officers can apply for funding for up to three officers, but cities with less area only eligible to apply for one officer.
"Without this funding the city will be hard-pressed to fill these positions," according to the grant application, which was read by council president Lee Koogler.
Koogler said, "It is my understanding that the city would ultimately have some costs associated with this, but it would be deferred for some time, in hopes that our revenues are increased, or that our ability to meet the obligation would be there.
Koogler asked Lewis for his thoughts on the matter, and Lewis said, "I would just like to say that I wholeheartedly support the application and would request that all council members fervently support it as well with their approval."
"As you all know, we're five short by ordinance," Zink told council members. In this past month he said, with sick time, vacation and personal days, they really were down and additional 2.5 more officers. "It's very worthwhile. They sure need the help."
Lewis said that he did not see any upfront costs, other than the uniforms.
Council member Rod Daniels questioned a portion of the application requirements that stated program guidelines and procedures must be followed, and if anyone had seen those guidelines. Zink said they would be the same procedures the city already had in place.
Council member Bill Alexander asked what would happen if the budget did not get better and the city could not afford to keep the officer on for the required additional 12-month period.
Hillsboro Law Director Fred Beery said that there is a provision in the grant for "hardship cases" that would allow a city to withdraw if they proved they were experiencing financial difficulties.
Council voted to waive the three-reading rule and passed the legislation 6-0.
The city of Hillsboro has voted to apply for a grant that could lead to funds for an additional officer with the Hillsboro Police Department.
By city statute, the HPD is short approximately five officers because budget constraints prevented the city from hiring new officers following the retirements of several officers in 2010 and 2011.
Legislation authorizing Hillsboro Mayor Dick Zink to apply for the funds was introduced to the Hillsboro City Council during their regular meeting May 9.
The grant, through the U.S. Department of Justice, The COPS (Community Oriented Policing Services) Hiring program, "is designed to advance public safety through community policing by addressing the full-time sworn officer needs of state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies nationwide. CHP provides funds directly to law enforcement agencies to hire new and/or rehire career law enforcement officers, and to increase their community policing capacity and crime prevention efforts. Available CHP funding in FY2011 will be just over $200 million."
The deadline for the grant is May 25.
The grant would provide 100-percent funding for entry-level salary and benefits for three years, with the condition that the city continue to employ the officer for at least one year after the funding ends. There are no matching dollars required to apply.
The anticipated cost of an entry-level officer is $38,168, working 2,080 hours over the course of the year at a 40-hour work-week. The grant also includes $9,264 for payroll taxes and more than $16,000 for fringe benefits. The city would be responsible for overtime hours and uniforms. Hillsboro Auditor Gary Lewis said $1,000 was estimated for uniform costs. Total cost for the grant is $63,783 for one year.
According to the legislation, "the budget will allow for increased costs to be included in the second and third year of the application. The objective of the grant is to increase the capacity of law enforcement and to implement community policing strategies that will strengthen partnerships for safer communities and enhance law enforcements capacity to prevent, solve and control crime."
Zink said that cities with more than 25 officers can apply for funding for up to three officers, but cities with less are only eligible to apply for one officer.
"Without this funding, the city will be hard-pressed to fill these positions," according to the grant application, which was read by council president Lee Koogler.
Koogler said, "It is my understanding that the city would ultimately have some costs associated with this, but it would be deferred for some time in hopes that our revenues are increased, or that our ability to meet the obligation would be there.
Koogler asked Lewis for his thoughts on the matter, and Lewis said, "I would just like to say that I wholeheartedly support the application and would request that all council members fervently support it as well with their approval."
"As you all know, we're five short by ordinance," Zink told council members. In this past month he said, with sick time, vacation and personal days, they really were down and additional 2.5 more officers. "It's very worthwhile. They sure need the help."
Lewis said that he did not see any upfront costs, other than the uniforms.
Council member Rod Daniels questioned a portion of the application requirements that stated program guidelines and procedures must be followed, and if anyone had seen those guidelines. Zink said they would be the same procedures the city already had in place.
Council member Bill Alexander asked what would happen if the budget did not get better and the city could not afford to keep the officer on for the required additional 12-month period.
Hillsboro Law Director Fred Beery said that there is a provision in the grant for "hardship cases" that would allow a city to withdraw if they proved they were experiencing financial difficulties.
Council voted to waive the three-reading rule and passed the legislation 6-0.
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