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By Carol Arnett

About a third of the Florissant Police force came to the city council meeting to express their concern with the proposed budget for fiscal year 2007. Mayor Robert Lowery submitted his proposed budget to the council. The council will now study the budget and make any changes they find necessary.

Police Officer Brian Bethmann, the president of the Florissant Police Officers Association, presented the association’s concerns, in writing, to the council. Bethmann declined to discuss specific details of what the association presented. “We want to the give the council an opportunity to review our comments,” he said after the meeting. “We will make it public later.”

Bethmann did say that the salary and benefits package the Florissant police receive has declined relative to other cities in the region. He said that in the early 1990s, Florissant ranked between fourth and sixth in the region for salary and benefits. In recent years, the city has ranked between 19 and 23.

Lowery’s proposed budget includes a 3.5% pay raise for all employees. In addition, corrections officers would receive an additional 1.4%. The overall budget is $1 million less than fiscal year 2006. The city’s fiscal year runs from Dec. 1 through Nov. 30.

Bethmann said that representatives from the police force would attend the budget discussions the council will hold later.
In other matters, the council:
• Passed a bill establishing a Wellness Commission in the city.
• Approved a request for a full liquor license for Shop N Save located at 2183 Charbonier Road.
• Approved a request for a full liquor by the drink for Chili’s Bar and Grill at 13901 New Halls Ferry Road.
• Honored Naval Officer Robert A. Snider, who is recently back for Iraq..

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