Voters in the Village of Bridgeport are facing an important decision next week. The Bridgeport Police Department is seeking the voters’ approval of a 5 mill continuing levy that is expected to generate more than $100,000 for the department.
The reasoning is simple. Bridgeport is the second busiest community in Belmont County by call volume, handling more than 4,500 calls for service in 2020 alone.
Police Chief John Bumba has five full-time officers and nine part-time officers at his disposal to keep the village staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
His ability to properly staff the village and provide the level of protection and coverage village residents are used to is waning. Why you ask?
Police work is a difficult and dangerous job. Officers know this going into the career. But it’s also rewarding. But like any career, the officers wish to provide for their families, especially given the job’s unique time commitments and potentialities.
Bridgeport officers make around $17.25 an hour. Bumba noted in the last three years, 20 officers have resigned. The reason? Better pay, and not just 60-90 centers per hour difference.
“They have all left for better paying law enforcement jobs in neighboring communities,” Bumba said. “One-hundred percent of the officers that have resigned cited financial compensation as their reason for seeking employment elsewhere.”
But how much of a difference are we talking?
The chief noted that Martins Ferry pays its officers between $23-24 per hour. The Belmont County Sheriff’s Office is $19-20, and Shadyside is $19. He’s lost officers to all three. St. Clairsville is the highest he said at around $25-26 per hour.
Without overtime, a Bridgeport officer working 40 hours per week makes around $35,880 per year. That same officer in Martins Ferry would make $47,840. That’s a big difference to pass up, and it’s why Bumba is having trouble keeping officers, in addition to being able to hire new ones to keep the department fully staffed.
“It’s hard to compete and hard to maintain the staffing compared to what other departments in the county can pay,” Bumba admitted. “The low pay, coupled with the lack of individuals going into law enforcement today creates a major challenge.”
Transportation Hub
Bridgeport’s population may be only village-status size, but the community receives a ton of traffic on a daily basis.
The chief noted that a 2013 study concluded more than 100,000 vehicles pass through Bridgeport on a daily basis. Given the traffic congestion in the last two years on both Interstate 70 and 470, that number has likely grown considerably.
That’s because Interstate 70, Ohio 7, and U.S. 40 all run through Bridgeport, and Bridgeport PD covers those roadways, in addition to all other portions of the village proper.
It’s hard work, but work Bumba’s officers are happy to perform.
“The community is accustomed to around the clock, full-time protection. And that’s what they deserve,” Bumba said.
That’s why the chief and some of his officers have been going door to door—volunteering their time mind you—to talk with village residents about supporting the levy, and the department.
They are trying to stress the importance of retaining and bolstering the force, as well as promoting all the good work the department does.
Thus far, the responses have been positive.
“We’ve had good reviews so far,” Bumba said. “We’ve been passing out pamphlets and talking to people. I’ve also had several area chiefs of police send endorsement letters for the levy, along with some business owners.
“The biggest thing for us is this will give us the ability to retain officers by being able to pay a bit more and be competitive with other agencies.
“That’s why we’re asking the voters in Bridgeport to support our levy.”
Levy Details
With all levies, the question of cost comes about.
This is a 5 mill levy, so for a home with $60,000 in valuation, a homeowner is looking at an increase of $105 per year, or 29 cents per day. If you take that up to a $100,000 home, that’d be $175 per year and $48 centers per day. Those homeowners able to take advantage of the Homestead Exemption would pay $61.25 and $131.25 per year, respectively, with the two previous figures. The exemption knocks $43.75 off the total.
Chief Bumba asks that anyone with additional questions call him at (740) 635-9999.
The previous levy fell only 364-317. It was also on the ballot with two levies for the Village of Bridgeport, both of which also were voted down by similar numbers.
