Annexation Will Cost $500K for Oxford Police Protection

By Alyssa Schnugg
Staff writer
alyssa.schnugg@hottytoddy.com

Adding 12 square miles to the Oxford city limits will cost the Oxford Police Department about $500K more a year.

On Monday, OPD presented its $7 million budget to the Oxford Board of Aldermen. City officials are in the middle of the budget process for all city departments and have been meeting with department heads to review each proposed budget.

OPD’s proposed $7,232,253 budget includes salaries and capital expenses; however, salaries and the capital purchases have not be finalized and those figures could change.

Proposed operating expenses are estimated at $868,383 and capital purchases are estimated at $681,276, which includes purchasing nine additional Dodge Charger patrol vehicles, renovations and building a 40-foot by 40-foot building in the back of the current OPD facility.

OPD’s building was built in the 1980s to accommodate about 25 officers. The department now has almost 60 officers.

We don’t know how long we’ll be here (in the building),” East said. “But we can continue to grow here if we can make some changes.”

The estimated cost for the new addition and other renovations including changes to the bathrooms and showers and kitchen area are estimated to be $128,000.

The city of Oxford is currently seeking to annex 12 square miles of Lafayette County land. The case is going through the legal process. Should it go through this fiscal year, which runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30, OPD Chief Joey East said his budget request would up an additional $526,853.

OPD would need an additional six officers to cover the additional miles, including all the equipment they would need like guns, computers, radios and body cameras, one additional code enforcement officer, a new vehicle for Code Enforcement and one more patrol vehicle.

The aldermen will continue budget hearings and then a public hearing will be scheduled for citizens to review and comment on the budget before the board votes in September. By law, the budget must be approved by Sept. 15.