Police department funding split under review
The Colby Abbotsford Police Commission discussed for the third consecutive month the financial burden of both municipalities in terms of the police department’s budget.
Currently, the city of Abbotsford finances 55 percent of the department’s annual budget while Colby finances the other 45 percent. That structure was put in place in 1969 when the Colby Abbotsford Police Commission was formed. Last year, the police department’s total budget was $884,914. In 2024, the department is projecting a two percent increase which would bring the total to $902,612.
According to the unofficial meeting minutes, commission president Todd Schmidt prepared a report for the committee using information provided by Colby City Clerk Connie Gurtner and Police Chief Jason Bauer. The report laid out four different options that would be an adjustment to the current financing model.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, as of August 15, 2022, the total equalized valuation of both municipalities was $284,163,000. Abbotsford’s portion of the total is, $178,095,700 (63%) while Colby’s is $106,067,300 (37%). The option would have Abbotsford pay for 63% of the police department contract.
Option B: Percentage of Calls
According to CAPD records, in the past year there have been 2,241 total calls for service in both municipalities. Officers have been called to Abbotsford 1,493 times (67%) while Colby has accounted for 748 (33%) of the calls.
According to the World Population Review, the total population of both municipalities is 4,366. Abbotsford’s population is 2,454 (56%) and Colby has a population of 1,912 people (44%).
Taking into account the disparity in equalized valuation, percentage of calls and population, and averaging the three approaches, the percentage of funding the CAPD budget would have Abbotsford paying 62% of the budget and Colby paying the other 38%.
Initially, Randy Hesgard and Dan Hederer motioned and seconded to approve the blended approach, or “Option D” in the report. A roll call vote was taken and the Colby representatives of Hesgard, Hederer and Schmidt voted to approve the new budget division between the two cities while Abbotsford representatives Mason Rachu, Sarah Diedrich and Roger Weideman voted “no” to the motion.
The commission went back to the drawing board and Hederer suggested the commission adopt a 60-40 budget split with Abbotsford picking up the majority of the financial burden. Hederer suggested the five percent increase that Abbotsford would be picking up could be phased in with half being instituted in 2024 and half being added in 2025. Hederer also suggested that the percentage that each municipality were to pay be reevaluated every five years.
Jason Bauer said it makes no sense to split up the department into two separate departments as it is working great and the partnership between the two municipalities shows that both sides want to work together and be fair. Rachu said he wanted additional information including the cost of remodeling the CAPD building and maintenance costs. Weideman asked Bauer for budget projections in the future and Bauer said increases could be in store for vehicle replacement costs and health insurance premiums.
In the end, the commission decided to table the issue until the September meeting. However, as budget season approaches, the commission will be under pressure to get something to respective city councils in a timely manner.
Abbotsford City Council went into closed session to discuss the matter at its August 16 meeting but no formal motion was presented.
The next commission meeting is scheduled for September 18.
