Bern Township approves 2022 budget and five-year police contract

The Bern Township Board of Supervisors approved the township's 2022 budget and ratified a five-year police contract during the Dec. 7, 2021 meeting.

Township Manager Brian Potts presented a budget totaling $4,655,895.00 and said the plan does not include a tax-rate increase. The board voted to adopt the budget; the package was balanced by using $209,305 from reserve funds and is $53,070 (1.1%) higher than the 2021 budget. Potts told the board health insurance costs rose 0.7%, less than the 7.5% increase he had budgeted.

The board also approved a police contract running Jan. 1, 2022 through Dec. 31, 2026. The contract provides 3% annual pay increases, an additional week of vacation after 17 years of service, two sick days permitted for family use, and a $1-per-hour differential for the officer in charge when the chief is on vacation. Training officers receive a $0.50 hourly training differential and new hires are granted 10 hours of sick time. The agreement requires two officers on duty during declared snow emergencies and ties overtime pay for court hearings to the officer's scheduled shift. The contract includes meal stipends for officers attending out-of-town training ($10 breakfast, $12 lunch, $20 dinner). Officers who opt out of the township's health insurance will receive payments of $2,500 (single) or $4,000 (family), paid over 26 weeks. Disability coverage maximums were increased to a top benefit of $10,000 per month.

Dr. Boyd Wagner III moved approval of both the budget and the police contract; both motions were seconded by Jeff Thompson and passed unanimously.

What happens next: The budget takes effect for the 2022 fiscal year, and the police contract terms apply to covered employees beginning Jan. 1, 2022. The board scheduled re-organization and its next regular meeting for Jan. 3, 2022.