Excelsior City Council Prepares to Take Neighboring Cities to Court Over Police Department Funding Dispute

Strategic Insights -

In a move to resolve a long-standing dispute over police funding, the Excelsior City Council has consulted with attorneys behind closed doors, with plans to file a lawsuit against neighboring cities Tonka Bay, Shorewood, and Greenwood. The council voted to "pursue all legal remedies" to resolve the issue, with City Manager Larry Whittaker indicating that alternative strategies and written complaints may be presented for approval by the end of the month. The dispute centers around Excelsior's claim that it pays too much for police services and its refusal to increase its contribution to the police budget, resulting in reduced services provided in the city.

Key Takeaways:

  • Excelsior's City Council has consulted with attorneys to explore legal options for resolving the dispute over police department funding, which has been ongoing for several years.
  • The council has voted to "pursue all legal remedies" to resolve the issue, with City Manager Larry Whittaker indicating that alternative strategies and written complaints may be presented for approval by the end of the month.
  • Excelsior officials claim that they pay too much for police services and have refused to increase their contribution to the police budget in recent years, leading to reduced services in the city.
  • The neighboring cities of Tonka Bay, Shorewood, and Greenwood have offered to increase their contributions to the police budget, but Excelsior officials consider the proposed changes to be unfair.
  • Several attempts have been made to resolve the dispute through negotiation, including proposals to bring in an arbitrator to settle the issue.
  • Excelsior officials remain open to negotiating a settlement before a lawsuit is filed, despite the council's decision to pursue legal action.

Statistics:

  • The dispute over police department funding has been ongoing for at least two years.
  • Excelsior officials claim that the city saves $500,000 by not contributing to the police budget, which goes towards funding police services in neighboring cities.
  • The neighboring cities of Tonka Bay, Shorewood, and Greenwood have offered to increase their contributions to the police budget by 20% each.
  • Several proposals have been discussed, including bringing in an arbitrator to settle the dispute, but none have been successful.

Sources:

  • Steverman, B. (2023, February 23). Excelsior City Council Prepares to Take Neighboring Cities to Court. Bob Limited.