KANNAPOLIS — The police chief told City Council on Tuesday night that the city of Kannapolis is 30 police officers short, but the news did not send them “running for cover,” according to Mayor Darrell Hinnant.

Using a formula from the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), Chief James “Woody” Chavis has determined that the city is down 30 officers. He had put in a request for four patrol officers, but the request was not included in the 2015 budget.

“We want to be realistic,” Chavis said. “We’ve been short for a long time.”

Fortunately, he said, the city’s crime rate has remained low, thanks to active citizens’ watch groups, and the fact that his department is proactive when addressing complaints.

Chavis said the cap for police officers has remained at 81 since 1996, some 18 years.

Councilmen Tom Kincaid and Doug Wilson said they hoped at least three new officers could be hired.

There is one vacancy that is in the process of being filled, Chavis said, and the fact that police officers may take their vehicles home with them is an excellent recruiting tool.

Council Roger Haas noted the construction of the new municipal building would help make the department even more efficient.

Chavis agreed, but said, “It really doesn’t reduce the fact that we need people on the street.”

He added, “Our police officers do a heck of a job with what we’ve got.”

Chavis said in the last two years, there have been six murders in Kannapolis, all of which were solved, with more than 12 people arrested. He praised the high caliber of his officers.

“I would put them head and shoulders above everybody,” he said.

“I feel safe,” Hinnant said. “The last thing I want to show up in the paper is that Kannapolis is 30 officers short. We are not running for cover.”

Chavis acknowledged other agencies have shortages, but “you can’t fudge the numbers.”

Looking at the overall budget numbers, City Manager Mike Legg noted that the city’s 2015 budget is $53,905,757, a 3.99 percent increase from last year’s revised budget. He said the two big drivers for the budget are a first-year debt service on the municipal building and police headquarters, and full city funding for 16 firefighters due to the expected lapse of a federal personnel grant.

There is continued growth in property tax, sales tax and water and sewer revenues, he said, and implementation of a 4-cent tax increase to fund the new building and the firefighters positions.

For the owner of a $150,000 home, this increase equates to $60 per year.

There are planned environmental fee increases of $2.50 per household per month and stormwater fee increases of 30 cents per month for most homes. This is to allow both of these budget items to eventually become self-sustaining, Legg said.

There are no water or sewer rate increases.

General fund revenues stand at $35,772,647, a 2.39 percent increase from last year’s budget. Primary drivers of revenue project are attributed to growth of the tax base. There is also a decrease of $136,000 in anticipation of significant changes in the state law regarding the administration of Business Privilege Licenses, which Councilman Roger Haas called an “idiotic decision” on the part of legislators.

Highlights of the general fund operating expenditures include $579,589 for an economic development initiative, $485,000 for street paving funds (Powell Bill), and $25,000 to support the N.C. Music Hall of Fame. Capital projects included from the city’s 10-year Capital Improvement Plan are $920,000 for debt service for construction of the new municipal building and police headquarters, and $76,200 local match for NODOT sidewalk projects at Highway 73 and Little Texas Road.

A retreat is planned for late summer or early fall to refine the council’s goals, objectives and strategies for economic development.

The water and sewer fund, proposed at $14,909,821, a 1.1 percent increase, includes $600,000 for bulk water purchase from the City of Albemarle, and $666,176 from bulk water purchases from the City of Salisbury. The latter payment ends in fiscal year 2018.

“When we made the agreement with Salisbury,” Legg said. “we were counting days left of water.”

“Those were serious days,” Haas added.

No new debt is included in the water and sewer fund.

Legg termed the stormwater and environmental funds status quo, with no significant changes. Other funds with no significant changes are the public transit fund and separation pay fund.

Council unanimously approved a resolution to file the recommended budget, and set a public hearing for June 9. The vote was 6-0 as Councilman Ryan Dayvault was absent because of a shoulder injury.

After a one-hour budget discussion, the council:

• Heard an update from Legg on the municipal building. Legg said initial bid openings came in $500,000 over budget. The second set of bid openings is still taking place, Legg said, because some contractors cannot afford to bid.

“Contractors are getting busy but don’t have the capacity they had pre-recession,” he said.

• Heard about planned improvements to the Dale Earnhardt Tribute Site and Main Street sidewalk in front of the memorial.

• Council unanimously adopted the 2014 State Legislative Short Session Agenda.

Freelance writer Susan Shinn lives in Salisbury.