In a special called meeting on July 4, 2025, the Helena-West Helena City Council addressed a crucial amendment to the base pay ordinance, specifically raising the chief of police's salary from $55,000 to $70,000. This decision aims to rectify a long-standing oversight regarding the compensation of the city's police chiefs.

During the meeting, it was clarified that the base pay for the chief of police had historically been set at $70,000 due to a grant received in 2015, which was intended to make the position more competitive. Despite the grant's discontinuation, the city continued to pay subsequent chiefs at the higher rate to maintain consistency and attract qualified candidates. However, the official base pay ordinance had not been updated to reflect this change, reverting to $55,000 each time a new chief was appointed.

City officials emphasized that this amendment is not a new expense but rather a correction of a clerical oversight that has persisted for nearly a decade. The council's decision now rests on whether to officially align the base pay with the actual compensation that has been provided to all chiefs since the grant's inception.

The council's discussions highlighted the importance of transparency and accuracy in municipal pay structures, ensuring that the chief of police is compensated fairly in line with historical practices. The outcome of this meeting will have significant implications for the city's governance and its ability to attract and retain qualified leadership in the police department.