The Carolina Beach Police Department has struggled with officer retention and conducted a pay study in January — now, they are asking Town Council to approve a major increase in the annual budget.

CAROLINA BEACH — The Carolina Beach Police Department is looking for a hefty increase in its annual budget for Fiscal Year 2019-2020; the department requested a total of $233,017, including the addition of a new civilian position, capital improvements, and a cost of living and merit raise in salaries.

The department has struggled with retaining police officers and has lost seven officers to New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office in the past year alone.

Related: Carolina Beach Police Department shakeup: Four more officers resign for New Hanover County jobs

According to Police Chief Chris Spivey, after losing the department’s administrative assistant, a job that consisted of a copious amount of work, he, along with the town’s human resources department, decided the position had to be broken into two jobs.

One reason for the need for a new position is actually due to the new federal guidelines that have been put in place for record keeping and crime reporting, Spivey said.

Overall, the department is understaffed by nine positions and the cost of personnel adds up to $2.6 million — and that is before the town considers pay raises to help keep officers from leaving.

Spivey offered the Town Council a breakdown of the needs and wants for the department in the upcoming budget on Tuesday during a budget workshop.

The breakdown

• COLA/Merit + FICA increase, insurance and state law enforcement retirement fund — $65,683
• New civilian administration position — $45,000
• Capital improvement — $94,429

The Town Council did not vote on any increases to police spending and ultimately it will come down to the final budget which will likely be approved in June and implemented July 1.

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