October 2020 | Vol. 02 Iss. 10
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MIXED FEELINGS SURROUND TAX INCREASE FOR UPD MILLCREEK POLICE SALARIES By Kirk Bradford | k.bradford@mycityjournals.com
A
t last month’s Millcreek City Council meeting, Mayor Jeff Silvestrini addressed residents’ comments about a new property tax increase. Residents received a notice informing them there was a need to raise property tax nearly 3% to increase Millcreek’s police officer salaries. Silvestrini detailed the various reasons he felt the tax increase was justified for UPD Millcreek police salaries. “The city first implemented the tax in 2018 when we left the SLVLESA (Salt Lake Valley Law Enforcement Area) police taxing district,” Silvestrini said. “There wasn’t a raise in taxes, just a shift in who was collecting it. The proposed increase in the amount of 2.78% will be the first time ever the city has raised its property taxes and we need it to raise the hourly pay of our officers and stay competitive with officers pay in surrounding cities.” Silvestrini presented visual charts to show the breakdown of the police department and where the money needs to go. Many towns located in Salt Lake County have decided to leave the UPD and form their own department. Millcreek decided to stay with the Unified Police Department. In referencing the charts, Silvestrini noted, “Millcreek’s problem right now is that our
officers are paid lower than other officers in the Salt Lake Valley UPD. We share things like an evidence locker, homicide detectives, crime lab, forensic lab, gang units and many other services we pay for here in Millcreek. The main expense we have is labor costs.” According to Silvestrini’s chart, it showed how the UPD wages stack up against other agencies. According to the chart, Millcreek pays its master officers a rate of $33.51/hour. Master officers are individuals with years of experience. “They are some of the most valuable officers,” Silvestrini said. “We have usually invested money and training with these officers. They aren’t like a green recruit. They are experienced and these are the officers we want to keep. Looking at the chart, these master officers are 12th on the pay wages below towns like Murray, Sandy and Salt Lake City.” Murray City pays the highest according to the chart. They pay $38.04/hour, putting them $4.53/hour higher than Millcreek. Millcreek Mayor Jeff Silvestrini discusses community concerns regarding the current fee schedule for busiSergeants in Millcreek are currently paid nesses. (Kirk Bradford/City Journals) $40.41/hour. They are ranked 10th on the pay wages chart. Murray is also first on the pay wage chart for sergeants paying them $44.96/ Some residents were supportive. “I want to pay this increase in support of hour making them $4.55/hour higher than Kristeen Balderas said, “I support the taxa- retaining and attracting good officers.” But Millcreek. tion and UPD.” Resident Linda Meln said, Continued page 10
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