Maurice board votes to raise police chief’s pay

MAURICE — Although not as much as anticipated, Maurice Police Chief Warren Rost has received a boost in pay.
The Village of Maurice Board of Aldermen voted 3-0 during Wednesday’s general board meeting to increase Rost’s annual salary from $32,569 to $35,000. Rost initially requested a bump to $38,000.
Rost, who has served as chief since 1982, stated his case for a raise during a public hearing prior to Wednesday’s vote.
“Four years ago I was re-elected with 63 percent of the vote and last year I was re-elected with 60 percent of the vote,” Rost said. “That shows that the public does have confidence in myself and my department. My department makes the police chief. There’s no doubt about that. They (citizens) see our officers on the road every day. What they realize, and some don’t realize, is they are out there because of my supervision and what I make them do.
“That public perception is an all-out-effort between myself and every officer that works for us.”
Rost, who received a raise from just under $28,000 to $31,000 in 2012, stressed that the police department’s budget, which he said is well in line, is solely his responsibility.
“This is strictly under me,” Rost said. “I decide what nickle to spend here and what nickle to spend there.”
Rost said in ‘14 he spent far less, under $300,000, of his budget than was available.
“In 2014, the police department left $89,400 to go into the budget to be spent elsewhere,” Rost said. “We are doing the same this year, with $84,000 left in the general fund, even though our expenses went up to $350,000. My responsibility as chief is to make sure where those dollars are spent, not stick you with a chief who wants every new toy and gadget that comes on the market.
“I do not spend money on items just to say that we have them. I spend on things to make sure that our officers and the public are safe.”
Alderwoman Phyllis Johnson said she spoke to some in the village during the last month to gauge the situation of a raise for the chief.
“Some of them said that they don’t see you,” Johnson said to Rost. “I think that if you were out there more, I think you would have the support. Right now, what they are telling me is that they don’t support a raise.
“I can’t support a ($38,000) raise at this time.”
Rost said he feels that is perception held by some who don’t know the full extent of his job.
“They don’t consider the job that needs to be done and the job that is being done,” Rost responded. “I know some people don’t see me all the time, but if you consider what the job entails, then you cannot deny that the job is being done. They don’t see the nights I am up working (on the budget) and making sure that things get done. Every call dispatches through my phone. They don’t see that.
“I can’t change every perception.”
While Johnson said she could not support an increase to $38,000, Aldermen Lynn Howell said his concern stems from the recent decline in sales tax revenue. Based on the 1989 sales tax, the police department receives a third of what is collected in a month.
“We had a 40-percent decrease in sales tax revenue in April,” Howell said. “Due to that decrease we are all tightening our belt. It’s no reflection on Warren’s job (to not go to $38,000).
Alderman Kenneth “Keno” Picard said a raise to some extent is necessary.
“I feel the police chief’s salary should be higher,” Picard said. “We want competent leadership in the future, to attract that type of leadership, we have to raise the salary a little. I am not saying that we have to go ($38,000), but I do feel we have to set a standard for a salary increase. We have been lucky to have qualified candidates in the past. We want to make sure that we have qualified candidates in the future.
“I would not like to have to go through this each year, once a police chief is elected.”
Picard motioned to increase the salary to $35,000. Howell offered a second.
“If we can get through this crunch,” Howell told Rost, “we can always come back and see if we can get it up to that $38,000. Hopefully you are not upset about a smaller increase than you wanted.”
Rost said he can live with the raise.
“Happy to get anything,” Rost said.