The total police budget for the city Brooten in calendar year 2006 was approximately $76,000. Of that amount, approximately $28,000 was budgeted for a contract for police coverage with officers of the Belgrade police department.
In 2006, the scheduled cost of the Brooten police department was approximately $46,000. That was busted up in October, however, as the powers-that-be chewed up former Chief Calvin Hanson during the month of September 2006.
At the same time, the city was attempting to find savings in the budget, use reserves and mix in tax increases to cover what was about a $118,000 deficit for the proposed 2007 budget.
By cutting the Brooten police department in the fall of 2006, the city was estimating they would save $18,000 on the local property tax levy.
The city of Brooten has gone over eight years now without its own police force.
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