Police contract increase, road work on county agenda
BY RALPH MANCINI
ralph@nordaknorth.com
Soaring rates at the pump were just one of the factors that went into the rationale of a proposed 6 percent increase in McLean County’s 2023 police contracts during the commission’s April 5 morning session.
In further diving into fuel concerns, McLean County Auditor Beth Knutson acknowledged that year-to-date gasoline expenses have already reached 43.08 percent of what’s been allotted to the Sheriff’s Office under the current operating budget at roughly one quarter through the calendar year.
Knutson also referenced a shortfall in what county cities are paying police personnel ($25.97 an hour) versus the average hourly rate for deputies at $29.62 an hour, representing a discrepancy of nearly $4.
She later went on to note how rising benefits expenses – approximately $400,000 – and projected cost-of-living totals leave the county no choice but to present a 6 percent hike.
McLean County State’s Attorney Ladd Erickson had no qualms with the new contracts, which city mayors and auditors will have an opportunity to comment on at an upcoming meeting in Underwood next month.
“My thinking on it: six [percent] is a loser. I mean, 10 would make some sense. The cities are going to recognize they’re bumping their own fuel costs with their equipment, so they’ll know that our six is going to be a good deal.
