Vienna continues debate over police fee
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VIENNA -- Discussion of whether or not to change the police fee continued in the first Vienna City Council meeting for 2018 on Thursday.
Mayor Randy Rapp said he was not in favor of any cuts to the police department by cutting the police fee paid by Vienna residents since 1974.
"We can find ways to cut the budget," he said. "I appreciate the effort you (Roger Conley) and Mike (Elam) have shown in going back and comparing number from last year. I think that's honestly where we will find where we are going to cut back."
Rapp said the police fee ordinance specifically stated it was for the continuance of maintenance and improvement of the special services of police protection by the city.
"I'm all in favor of cutting the budget where ever you want to cut it, but not the fee," Rapp said.
Rapp said some light is now going on in the fire department for its incentive pay for those who have been members for more than 10 years.
"We have the best volunteer fire department in West Virginia," he said. "Yes, we have an incentive program for them; the reason why it was put in there was for the retention of our firefighters."
Rapp said there is a lot of training and work to get to that level. He said the incentive pay is very small.
"If you look at the cities around us, it's millions and millions of dollars to have a paid fire department," he said, "We are so blessed to have 28 men and women who are willing to sacrifice for that department and some have been there in excess of 45 years."
Rapp said the police fee is a small amount of money and does not need to be cut.
"If you look at the $215,000 that is generated by the police fee, that was put in by ordinance for the extra protection and plans of the police department," he said. "We pride ourselves on having nice equipment. We want our officers to know they have whatever they need and it will stand up. I'm not about to ask our department to take any kind of cut when it comes to protection, training sand equipment; I don't think that's what Vienna wants."
Councilman Roger Conley said he resents being seen as someone who wants to cut the police budget.
"I know that money goes to the general fund and it can be used for any other department for anything," he said. "To sit here and insinuate that because I asked for the fee to be reduced that I'm in favor of doing something adverse to our police department is an absolute insult to me and I resent that as well."
Recorder Cathy Smith said the police fee goes to the general fund like money for any department, but it is for the police department.
"That's from where they operate," she said.
"They also operate from the budget they submit like any other department and we approve it," Conley said.
"Still that money comes from the general fund," Smith replied. "If you take that money out of there, you are taking it from them (police department)."
"That goes for any other department; that money can be used by any department," Conley said. "That money does not go to the (police) department. It is totally misleading and it's wrong."
"I think you are misled on what the general fund is," Smith said. "I respect your opinion but I totally disagree with it."
Rapp said the ordinance shows the people of Vienna want to support their police department.
Councilman Roger Bibbee said the council had the same discussion two years ago to cut the fee as a way to give back after the city began to collect the one percent sales tax from home rule.
"I for one in no way, shape or form would agree to any reduction in funding for our police department," Bibbee said. "We discussed it two years ago and it was too late because the revenue side of the budget was set. I don't want that to happen again.
"We need to take some kind of action on it, we need to address it."