As the town of Berkley is weighing the consequences of a 6% budget cut, Berkley Police Chief Arthur Newhook said that such a cut would impact public safety given already low staffing at the Police Department.
“A proposed 6% ‘Guidelines’ reduction to the Police and Emergency Communications budgets is not a routine cost-saving adjustment,” Newhook said in an email. “Given current staffing and operational realities, it would directly and measurably weaken public safety in Berkley.”
Berkley Selectmen told the Gazette they would be presenting voters with a Proposition 2 1/2 override that would raise taxes to fund services — although the specific numbers in terms how much taxes would increase and how much new revenue would be required have not yet been finalized…