Although the Stoneham Police Department’s budget request included three new police officers, the town’s working budget for next year has dumped the positions.
The original police budget request was $3,559,616 for personnel and operating expenses, which included the three new positions. Town Administrator David Ragucci opted to cut that figure by just over $200,000, and not hiring the three new officers requested.
The recommendation was presented to the Board of Selectmen last month.
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In addition to the police request, Ragucci also recommended cutting:
- An administrative assistant at the Council on Aging (about $19,000);
- The new book acquisition budget at the public library ($15,000);
- The School Department ($545,000 out of the total $24.9 million budget).
The town also has a reduction of $117,000 in debt service that was expected in the fiscal 2015 budget because the Stoneham Fire Department was unable to buy a needed fire engine. The department could not fit the new engine in the station. SFD is looking into refurbishing a Wakefield Fire apparatus in the future to meet the department’s needs.
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