POLICE

TOWN OF OCEAN CITY

FISCAL YEAR 2025 PROPOSED BUDGET

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BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS:

REVENUE CHANGES:

Funding from State Police Aid increases from the amount budgeted in FY 24. Grants received in FY 23 totaled $50,517. If grant revenue is received in FY 25, it will be added to the budget as it is received. Revenue from parking fines is expected to increase $315,000. Revenue from tow fines is anticipated to decrease $37,000. Building rental for District Court will increase $4,512. Municipal Infractions and revenue from impounded vehicles are expected to decrease $43,000.

PERSONNEL CHANGES:

Ten Police officer positions were added in FY 21, bringing the total number of Police employees to 143, which includes 116 sworn officers, 25 civilian employees and 2 animal control officers. Two full-time Crime Scene Technicians and two seasonal part-time Records Clerks were added in FY 23 for bodycam project implementation. Four additional sworn officers were added in the FY 24 budget. Ten officers have been added in the FY 25 budget: five funded for a full year and five funded for six months. Part-time salaries include 25 seasonal officers and 58 Public Safety Aides. Part-time salaries decrease $223,226 as fewer part-time officers and more full-time officers have been funded. Three seasonal Records Technician positions were deleted in FY 25 due to the new parking contract. Members of the Fraternal Order of Police bargaining unit receive a step on July 1st, 2024 and a 3% COLA on January 1st, 2025. Specialty pay has also been included for members of the bargaining unit. Funding for reserve officers is included at $140,000. A step increase and a 3% COLA effective January 1, 2025 has been included for all full-time civilian employees. Seasonal officers will be paid $20.16 per hour for the summer of 2024. Hourly rates for Public Safety Aides were increased to $17.91. Overtime in both the Services and Patrol divisions has been increased a total of $282,245. Benefit costs for the additional positions have been included. Allocations for health insurance and pension increase, while the allocation for worker’s compensation decreases. No funding has been included for retiree health (OPEB).

CHANGES IN OPERATIONS:

Contracted Services include $302,000 in towing expenses, a reduction of $61,000. Telephone and radio parts expense has been funded at $183,243. Cell phones have been included for all Patrol division staff. Training and Travel has been budgeted at $311,426, which includes $42,140 for entry-level training for the new officers.The annual expense for the Axon body camera contract has been funded at $424,593. Annual legal and policy review program has been included at $19,564. Allied agency assistance for major special events at a cost of $25,000 has also been included. Parkeon fees have been reduced $50,000 due to the new Parking management contract. Advertising has been funded at $12,500, and psychological testing for police applicants has been included at $22,320. Test question development and consulting fees for the sergeant and Corporal promotional process have been included at $25,500. The contract to cover the costs of boarding, hay, feed, grooming and care for the Mounted unit has been funded at a cost of $68,400. Funding for general building and equipment maintenance decreases $76,526 as several projects funded in FY 24 have been completed. Public Safety building hallway floor replacement has been funded at $35,000. Supplies and Materials include all operational supplies and uniform costs. Ammunition purchases are also included in this line item at a cost of $95,216. Patrol operational supplies includes equipment and radios for the additional officers at a cost of $56,250. One in-car camera has been funded at $10,000. Replacement uniforms and items included in the Fraternal Order of Police contract are included in this line item at a cost of $211,208. Uniforms, uniform shoes, and ballistic vests for the ten additional officers have been included at $27,950. Energy costs increase and reflect expenses for the most recent twelve months. Vehicle fuel, parts and labor costs are all budgeted to increase in FY 25, as the number of vehicles to upfit increases from eight to ten. Police Fleet will be expanded by 3 vehicles in FY 25. All upfitting costs have been included at $206,392. The Police department’s portion of the CAD/RMS maintenance costs are charged through Intragovernmental expenses. Maintenance and support for this system cost this department $154,680 annually. Allocations for Vehicle lease, radio lease and IT Services increase for FY 25, while the allocation for insurance decreases. Nine Ford Explorers and an F150 for the K9 unit have been funded through Vehicle Trust.