The Bourbon Town Council members considered a request from Town Marshal Bill Martin to increase probationary pay for officers who graduate from the Law Enforcement Academy.
Martin explained that recent raises for the base salaries did not include probationary officers. He asked that the council grant a percentage of a raise once they graduate the Law Enforcement Academy. Once their year-long probationary time is over, they would get a full salary.
Bourbon Town Council President Ward Byers stated that he and Clerk-Treasurer Kim Berger reviewed the police department’s budget. The current pay is $34,000 for probationary officers.
Byers indicated that the raise to $40,000 for probationary pay could occur without any problems. The officers would then receive the normal rate of pay per the town policy.
Byers stated, “That amount of money is actually budgeted so we would not be dipping into any unbudgeted funds for the payroll for the police department. We had that extra room because they’re probationary officers. Those line items would allow us to move that up a little bit without dipping into any unbudgeted funds.”
The council members unanimously approved a motion to increase the pay to $40,000 each for probationary pay pending an officer’s graduation from the Law Enforcement Academy.
