Burlington city budget passes with additional police officer positions

BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) - Burlington’s City Council approved the city’s budget for the next fiscal year Monday night on a 10-1 vote.

The budget takes effect July 1 and represents about a 4% increase compared to last year.

As part of the plan, the city will eliminate 13 vacant positions and delay hiring for 14 more.

The budget also adds 10 police officer positions, funded through a tax increase approved by voters on Town Meeting Day. That would bring the Burlington Police Department to 69 officers, which is still below staffing levels prior to reductions approved in 2020, when the department had 92 officers.

Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak said the increase is aimed at maintaining public safety through careful hiring.

“This is really about methodical recruitment — the type of officers who are ready to serve in a community that has the complexities that we do in Burlington,” Mulvaney-Stanak said. “We’re not a community that has more sleepy town Vermont vibes. We really have some complex challenges.”

In addition to adding positions, the city is increasing funding for police signing bonuses, offering up to $20,000.