Police Commission members at a December 1 session approved a proposed police budget of $6,704,463 for the 2016-17 fiscal year.

The proposed budget reflects a 4.6 percent spending increase when compared to $6,405,336 “amended” police budget for the current fiscal year, police Captain Joe Rios told Police Commission members.  

Last April, the Legislative Council approved a 2015-16 police budget of $6,314,260.

Capt Rios was the police department’s representative at the December 1 Police Commission session in the absence of Chief Michael Kehoe.

Capt Rios explained that much of the proposed spending increase stems from contractual obligations covering salaries and pensions for unionized police officers.

According to a budget statement from Chief Kehoe, the proposed budget increases spending by almost $300,000, mainly due to contractual salary/benefit hikes.

Town contributions toward the police retirement account increased about 19 percent due to the use of new mortality tables, according to the chief.

Also, medical claims insurance costs have increased by 6.5 percent due to insurance claims experience.

According to a salary table attached to the budget, the highest proposed salary for the 2016-17 fiscal year would be for the chief at a level of $118,334.

The captain would be paid $105,050. The pay for lieutenants would range from $96,588 to $96,788.

The pay for sergeants would range from $81,621 to $87,911. The pay for detectives would range from $77,198 to $77,848.

Patrol officers’ pay would range from $54,864 to $76,648.

Overall, police officers’ salaries would represent $3.5 million of the overall spending proposal.

The police department budget proposal will be subject to review by the Board of Selectmen, Board of Finance, Legislative Council, and ultimately by voters at referendum.

The overall Newtown budget for the current fiscal year is $111.7 million.