This east-side city is budgeting more than $5.86 million for the new squad's first year.

The tab - tentatively approved this week by the City Council - includes some startup costs and two monthly payments to the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office, which will continue to provide police services until Cottonwood Heights' new force takes over Sept. 1.

Still, the costs are more than the $3.79 million the Sheriff's Office was expected to charge for the 2008-09 fiscal year.

A feasibility study estimated about $5.86 million for startup expenses combined with the department's first-year budget. So far, the city already has paid nearly $250,000 for the new force since March, bringing the estimated startup and first-year costs to about $6 million.

Reasons for the higher price tag: the rising costs of gasoline and weapons along with some unanticipated expenses - such as $5,000 for traffic cones.

Police Chief Robby Russo notes the city saved some money by leasing patrol cars (at a cost of $769,000) and teaming up with other cities for SWAT and K9 units.

Besides, Russo argues, the extra costs of a self-providing police department can bring extra benefits - advantages not available when contracting for law-enforcement services.

"It's the difference between buying and renting," Russo says. "It's not a startup cost, it's an investment."

While the new police force carries a bigger bill, residents won't be bearing the brunt of those additional costs.

"We're sticking to our promises that it would be paid for, it wouldn't take a property-tax increase, and it wouldn't raid other departments," says City Manager Liane Stillman.

Instead, the money is coming from some quality-of-life initiatives. For instance, Cottonwood Heights was looking into creating a dog park, Stillman says, but that project might be pushed back to another year.

mariav@sltrib.com