MADISON—Despite a small increase (0.8%) in the number of police officers between 2001 and 2006, total law enforcement expenditures in 224 municipalities studied grew 24.6% during that time, according to a new report from the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance (WISTAX). Now in its 76th year, WISTAX is a nonprofit, nonpartisan public-policy research organization dedicated to citizen education.

According to the report, the 224 municipal police departments with full-time staff added 56 net officers from 2001 to 2006. Milwaukee’s 28 new officers accounted for half the increase. Another 78 municipalities added officers, 76 communities cut officers, and 69 had no change. Generally, the number of police officers increased as populations grew. Milwaukee was the noticeable exception, losing nearly 1% of its population but increasing its police force by 1.5%. The city’s large population and higher crime rates were the likely reasons for the difference.

Excluding Milwaukee, law enforcement expenditures in 223 municipalities increased 23.8% over the period studied. WISTAX researchers noted a modest relationship between population growth, additional officers, and spending increases.

The report combined municipalities into three groups based on population growth: the 56 fastest growing, or top 25%; the 55 slowest growing, or bottom 25%; and the middle 50% (112). The fastest-growing communities had populations increase 13.0% on average. These municipalities increased officers by 5.9% and had expenditures climb 36.1%. The 55 municipalities that grew the least (1.2% population decline) reduced officers 4.0%. However, law enforcement expenditures in these municipalities rose 19.1%. Since expenditures exclude capital expenses, debt service, 911 services, and corrections, the numbers suggest that law enforcement has become more expensive since 2001. Considering the labor-intensive nature of law enforcement, the increase was likely driven by salary and benefit costs.

Although 224 municipalities reported full-time officers in 2006, 789 reported public safety expenditures, totalling $906.8 million, or nearly half of total municipal property taxes in 2005-06 ($2.0 billion). Law enforcement spending has grown 4.5% per year on average since 2001. At this rate, municipal law enforcement spending will top $1 billion by 2009.

Despite greater expenses, police coverage among all 224 municipalities fell from 2.09 officers per 1,000 people in 2001 to 2.04 in 2006. Overall, population growth exceeded the growth in new officers.

According to Census Bureau statewide figures, Wisconsin ranked 19th highest nationally with 1.95 full-time local officers per 1,000 people in 2006. This was slightly below the 2.02 national average. New York (3.51) had the most police coverage; Vermont (1.03) had the least. Of Wisconsin’s neighbors, only Illinois (2.69) exceeded the national average. Iowa (1.72), Michigan (1.60), and Minnesota (1.39) were below average.