Posted 6/14/24

The Town of Petersburg Board of Mayor and Aldermen unanimously voted to reduce the town’s police force and placed the police chief on salary due to financial constraints.

During its May 21st work session regarding the proposed Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget, three draft budget options were submitted for police department expenditures.

After reviewing each draft, the board considered the third option as the most beneficial budget option.

The third option required a reduction in the police department and the chief would be placed on salary to mediate the projected loss. Additional options to reduce spending included officers no longer driving vehicles to and from work, and potentially changing health benefit providers.

The board also eliminated the highest paid, non-department head position which reduces spending by $87,121 and enables the board to recover $7,900 from the sale of a police vehicle.