Village of Mazomanie eliminates first shift police officer due to costs

Levy stays the same, last year’s flood losses offset gains, police contract price increases
By: 
Joe Block

The Village of Mazomanie, facing decreased revenue in 2020 because of last year’s flood damage, is reducing its police force from three to two officers. “Mazomanie will be cutting the dayshift position from the contract. [Deputy] Nate Alwin has already been notified and he will be reassigned to another position within the Sheriff’s Office beginning January 1, 2020,” said Jan Tetzlaff, Captain, Dane County Sheriff’s Office, Field Services Division.

The Village released the following statement at its Oct. 8 board meeting:

“The village has reached an accommodation with the Dane County Sheriff’s Department to effect cost savings of $145,000 in contracted policing services for 2020. This cost reduction was necessitated by the 2019 decrease in assessed valuation of residential and commercial properties that were impacted by the 2018 flood event. Those decreases fully offset valuations placed on new homes constructed in the village during 2018. The net result is that the tax levy for 2020 is expected to remain the same as that levied for 2019 with allowances made only for any short- term borrowing needs of the village. In addition to the change made in contracted policing services, further expense reductions of $35,000 are probable to effect a balanced budget.”

The statement continues:

“Beginning in 2020 the village will contract, at a cost not to exceed $285,000, for two full-time deputies with Dane County versus three in past contracts. Contracted deputies will maintain a varied schedule within the village and will be supplemented as needed by county patrol officers.”

Costs to contract with the Dane County Sheriff’s Department have seen a $30,000 increase since 2013. The 2019 contract was for $389,492. The Sheriff’s department proposed contract was for $429,799, a 10 percent increase.

In September, the Village notified the Sheriff’s Department they would be terminating the entire contract as of next year. This was a formality in order to enter negotiations. The letter, from Village Attorney William Cole, read in part:

“I wish to emphasize the Village desires to continue its contractual relationship with the Sheriff’s Department, albeit under reduced service levels in order to comport with its budgetary constraints. We hope to be able to negotiate an amendment which accomplishes that need.”

“We look forward to working with your office on this matter and will be in contact with a proposal in the near future.”

Since then the board has met several times in closed session for negotiations and announced their decision at the October meeting.

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