Finance Committee reviews the public safety budgets

By Mark E. Vogler

SAUGUS – It will cost about $1.5 million more to keep the town safe under Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree’s proposed budget for the 2026 Fiscal Year that begins July 1. There seemed to be no major concerns during the Finance Committee’s review of the Police and Fire Department spending plans at last week’s (March 19) meeting.

The proposed Police Department budget for the 2026 Fiscal Year is $10.7 million, about a $1.1 million increase over the current fiscal year. Saugus Police Chief Michael Ricciardelli told the Finance Committee last week that a $622,000 increase in full-time salaries was due to contractual obligations. This reflected a two-year increase in salaries, one of those years retroactively after a settlement of the police contract last year.

The department’s sick leave buy-back budget will increase from $71,000 to $297,000, according to the chief. “We have seven people in the department who plan on retiring next year in the next fiscal year,” Chief Ricciardelli said. Officers are allowed to buy back up to 100 sick days, Ricciardelli said.

The budget for dispatchers reflected a $135,000 increase, according to the chief. “It’s one of those jobs that’s a stepping stone for police officers and firefighters,” the chief said, alluding to the high turnover in the position.

Saugus Finance Committee Chair Kenneth DePatto noted that the town has made “significant investments” in the Police Department communications system and vehicles in recent years, which pays off for the town in the long run. Chief Ricciardelli said the switch from copper lines to fiber optics has vastly improved the department’s overall communications system.

The proposed Police Department budget funds 10 lieutenants, eight sergeants and 51 patrolmen in addition to the chief, administrative assistant, general assistant, principal clerk and mechanic.

The proposed Fire Department budget for the 2026 Fiscal Year is $7.3 million, about a $344,000 increase over the current budget. Saugus Fire Chief Michael Newbury will be observing his 10th year anniversary of being sworn in as fire chief this September. He told the Finance Committee that he’s also looking forward to the arrival of the new ladder truck sometime this summer, which will replace a vehicle that is more than 20 years old.

An increase of more than $200,000 in full-time salaries and a $100,000 increase in the general overtime budget account form most of the increase in the Fire Department’s proposed spending plan. The proposed Fire Department budget includes funding for 12 captains, eight lieutenants and 36 firefighters in addition to the chief, the deputy chief and administrative assistant.