RUTLAND, Mass. — Voters in Rutland will weigh in on the town’s Fiscal Year 2024 budget Monday, which includes a big decision on the town’s police department.

In a Facebook post on the town’s police department page, Chief Nicholas Monaco said while he can’t tell people how to vote, a “no” would result in devastating cuts to what he feels is an already inadequate budget. 

“Some of those cuts will include cutting the administrative assistant hours and eliminating COLA and step increases, massive cuts to the overtime line item, which will result in an inability to cover shifts, an inability to deal with major emergencies, a reduction in training and elimination of any community policing-related overtime,” Chief Monaco wrote.

If voters say yes to the $2 million budget override, police and other departments will have more funding to get through the year. 

Town Administrator Austin Cyganiewicz said voters will have plenty to consider, and hopes people get to the polls and make their voices heard.

“There’s also impacts on the fire department, all of our public safety departments, our DPW department, the library,” Cyganiewicz said. “The police department particularly is impacted by reducing staffing for the department, decreasing officers and some of the costs that are associated with providing public safety services.”

Chief Monaco wrote in his post that he plans to vote “yes,” despite being disappointed taxes will go up because public safety is critical in keeping the town safe.