Title
Local Law Enforcement Compensation Bonus Program
Action
Action:
A. Authorize the City Manger, or his designee, to accept $3,160,801 from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation for the Local Law Enforcement Officer Compensation Bonus Program, and
B. Adopt a budget ordinance appropriating $3,160,801 from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation for the Local Law Enforcement Compensation Bonus Program to the General Grants Fund.
Body
Staff Resource(s):
Chief Estella Paterson, Police
Matt Hastedt, Finance
Shelia Simpson, Human Resources
Explanation
§ The 2026 Appropriations Act (Session Law 2026-41), passed by the NC General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Stein in July 2026, provides state funding for compensation bonuses for sworn local law enforcement officers.
§ This Act provides that sworn local law enforcement officers employed as an officer on June 30, 2026, are eligible to receive a one-time compensation bonus in the amount of $1,750.
§ The Local Law Enforcement Officer Compensation Bonus Program (Program) is being administered by the NC State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) as directed by the NC General Assembly.
§ Based on guidance distributed by the SBI, the city has certified 1,668 eligible city employees, including 1,405 officers, 167 sergeants, and 96 command staff.
§ The SBI is estimated to reimburse $3,160,801 to the city, the amount equal to the total of eligible bonuses for 1,668 employees plus the city’s share of FICA taxes.
§ These bonuses are not part of the annual salary and are not compensation for the purposes of any retirement system administered by the state.
- Eligible permanent part-time officers receive a prorated amount.
- These bonuses are scheduled to be paid on October 15, 2026, as directed by the Act.
§ There is no city funding required to participate in the Program.
Fiscal Note
Funding: State funding
Attachments
Attachment(s)
Budget Ordinance