Council Approves New Positions For Police, Fire

FARMINGTON -- The city of Farmington will have two new positions in 2016: another full-time police officer and another full-time firefighter.

Farmington City Council approved the 2016 budget earlier this month, creating the positions at the requests of police Chief Brian Hubbard and fire Chief Mark Cunningham. Both Hubbard and Cunningham have talked for years about the need to increase their staff.

With the new position, Farmington Police Department will have 12 officers, include a desk sergeant. Hubbard is in his ninth year as police chief and this will be the first new position since he was appointed to the top job. The salary for a new patrol officer will be $54,199, including benefits.

"Our population sign says we have 5,973 people but I know we have a lot more people than that in the city," Hubbard said following the Council meeting Nov. 9. The city's call volume has increased over the years and officers have especially seen an increase in custody disagreements and custody issues, Hubbard said.

Other circumstances facing officers nationwide are increased violence and threats toward law enforcement officers and school shootings. Hubbard said one plan is to have an increased presence in Farmington schools.

"This is a step in the right direction," Hubbard said.

Cunningham's long-range plan is to provide coverage 24 hours, seven days a week.

The new position will give Farmington Fire Department four full-time positions: the fire chief, two full-time firefighters and a fourth full-time position that is filled with rotating firefighters. The salary for the new firefighter will be $53,916, including benefits.

"We need more coverage and people need guaranteed coverage," Cunningham said.

The department's two firefighters will work 12-hour shifts. This will allow the department to provide coverage from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. during the week and then during day-time hours on most weekends, Cunningham said.

Council members approved a 2016 budget that increased 10.25 percent over last year. City financial officer Jimmy Story said Farmington usually increases its budget each year about 6 percent. The two new positions for 2016 account for the additional costs.

For 2016, the city projects to receive $2.6 million in revenue for its General Fund. The largest increase projected is from the city's 1-cent sales tax and county sales tax revenues, distributed based on population. The budget projects to receive $492,000 from the 1-cent sales tax and $1 million from the county sales tax for a total of almost $1.5 million, compared to a total of $1.3 million in the 2015 budget.

Other projected revenue is $400,000 from the 5-mill property tax, $350,000 in franchise fees, $100,000 in turnback funds and $60,000 from development fees for large-scale developments and other construction projects within the city limits.

The 2016 budget provides a 2-percent cost-of-living increase for employees, with a 3-percent merit raise based on an employee's annual evaluation. Elected officials, except for the city attorney, will not receive an increase. City Attorney Steve Tennant will receive a 5-percent raise for his duties, increasing his salary to $64,422, including benefits.

The budget for the administrative department increased from $763,000 in 2015 to $809,000 for 2016. Budgets for other departments include $330,000 for fire, $935,000 for police and $240,000 for parks.

The 2016 budget for the street department is $580,000. Revenue includes $387,000 in state turnback funds, $152,000 from the 1-cent sales tax and $40,000 from the city's 5-mill property tax. For expenses, money budgeted for street lights will increase from $48,000 in 2015 to $100,000 for 2016. The City Council agreed to pay $50,000 toward a new traffic signal at Holland and U.S. 62 and this will be paid out of the 2016 budget.