Behind the numbers — Police Department Meger Wrap-up Part 1

Some seemed surprised by Administrator Jim March's recommendation that negotiations between Grand Chute and Appleton for a police department merger be put to rest. On further examination, the numbers coming through at the end may give some insight behind the merger's demise.

Last week, I received a revised budget from the city of Appleton Finance department. They had combed through the previous budgetary figures and revised numbers to come up with a closer cost-case scenario. The new combined budget scenario was $386,404 more than the previous document. Adding in new officer wages under the 2010 union contract negotiations skyrocketed it up even further, an additional $511,597. A new, merged Appleton/Grand Chute Department now has a combined budget of $19,463,072. (See new budget numbers below)


Now that final figures were available, the eight-part formula the Police Merger Implementation Committee came up with to determine each municipality's annual cost could be used. The final percentage for Grand Chute was 20.54%.

cost sharing formula

It was reported in a memo to Town Board Supervisors from Interim Deputy Chief Peterson, that the merger would save Grand Chute $18,000. This savings would be wiped out by ancillary cost not yet determined by the City of Appleton. This is true if the 20.45% is applied to the merged budget savings number found on page 2 of the revised budget of $88,114.

HOWEVER, when the 20.54% is applied to the overall merged budget of $19,463,072, one can determine that Grand Chute's portion of the bill would be $4,023,429.

The 2010 Grand Chute Police Department Budget is $3,914,632.

A merged department would cost Grand Chute taxpayers $108,797 more than having the Grand Chute Police Department remain independent.

Part 2 next week