Lincolnshire Police faces dire financial straits, needs more cash and will see a rise in council tax to avoid job cuts.
Up to 400 jobs might go without help. To support the police, council tax will rise, and councillors approved this rise, except one.
Homes in Band D will pay £14 more, totaling £318 each year. The police still need to save £14 million by 2025, and by the next year, they need £20 million.
Chief Constable Gibson spoke about money issues, saying funds are much tighter here compared to other police forces nearby.
Government money helps, but inflation ate it up. Cuts would make them simply react instead of prevent, when they want to prevent crime.
Talks continue with the Home Office to avoid cuts, although they may start in April. Commissioner Jones said the situation is very bad.
A vote on a bigger tax rise could happen, but it would cost over £1 million and likely fail. Jones said it wastes taxpayer money.
About 60 officers leave each year normally, retiring or changing careers. Since they can’t fire officers easily, this might mean hiring freezes. Freezes could last three years as staff leave, and they would also cut civilian staff.
The Chief Constable told the committee that improvements will be difficult, given police inspectors also want improvements made by the force.
Gibson said they can do it, but not with big cuts. Lincolnshire Police gets the least money per person, and leaders want a new funding method.
