Holley board won’t vote to dissolve police this year, but expects to make cuts

Photo by Tom Rivers: The Holley Police station is located at 8 Thomas St. The department has been in Holley since 1930.

HOLLEY – The Village Board won’t be voting anytime soon to dissolve the police department or put the issue to a public vote.

Instead, the Village Board will look to reduce spending in the department in the village budget, with dissolution a possible focus the following year, said Holley Mayor Mark Bower.

The mayor said he values the police department but also is aware of a high tax burden for village residents. He praised the Holley Police Department for its quick response on Tuesday when a man who was allegedly highly intoxicated fired multiple gun shots from a Geddes Street address. That man was taken into custody without anyone being harmed.

The Village Board said the police budget  accounts for over $500,000 to village taxpayers each year. That is precisely $523,973 of the village’s $2,165,925 budget in 2026-27.

Mayor Bower said the board is determined to try to bring down the tax burden in the village. Residents and some of the larger businesses in Holley tell him the taxes are too high in the village.

The Holley PD has a chief, two full-time officers and six part-timers. There are officers on duty nearly 24-7. There are currently two night shifts not filled each week.

Bower said the village will look to make some reductions to bring down costs but won’t be looking at dissolving the department this budget cycle or in the 2027-28 fiscal year.