Rockingham taxpayers won’t be facing a property tax hike next year, but seven police officers could lose their jobs after Oct. 1 unless outside funding comes through.

City Manager Monty Crump will present the budget to his board Tuesday at a retreat at Hinson Lake. It includes a salary freeze for all city workers.

The seven police officers were hired under four-year programs which paid most if not all of their salaries in the early stages. The city’s share increased gradually over time until now, when the full cost falls onto Rockingham taxpayers.

The funding situation isn’t a surprise. Crump made it clear to the board it was coming last year during budget season.

Crump hopes the city won’t have to reduce the size of the police force. The city has already applied for federal funds to cover the salaries of the seven policemen and hopes to have a response by the end of September.

The police department is the largest single department in terms of expenditures in the new general fund budget at $2.2 million. Both the sanitation and fire departments each cost about $1 million.

To fully fund the seven cops for a year would force an increase of five cents on the current tax rate of 48 cents per $100 in property value. A penny on the tax rate equals about $63,000.

Crump has also budgeted no money to replace police cars, something that the city tries to do each year. There is $6,500 for bulletproof vests and $8,250 set aside for laptop computers for the police department.

Police Chief Robert Voorhees hopes the additional funding is approved.

“I understand that the budget is tight,” Voorhees said. “I understand the economy as well as anybody. I think the most important thing is to continue to provide the services we provide. If we start cutting personnel, the first thing to go will be non-essential services, like unlocking car doors.

“The city council understands that and we’re all working together to keep everything as it is.”

Voorhees points out a crime crackdown on Caroline Street and a summer youth program at the Long Drive Apartments as two success stories that were possible because of the added manpower.

“It takes personnel,” he said.

Voorhees said Rep. Larry Kissell’s office has said it wants to fund 400 police positions in the district.

“Retention of police officers does apply,” Crump said.

The city manager said the city’s revenue picture remains “a moving target” and that an uptick in the economy could mean the budget situation improves.

Water and sewer rates won’t increase if the budget is adopted as written, but garbage rates will. Crump is proposing to raise monthly garbage fees from $11.50 to $12.50. That will bring in an additional $34,800 in revenue, but the sanitation department will still require a $304,634 subsidy from the general fund.

The city’s reserve fund, which had topped $2 million in 2004, is estimated to be down to $1.6 billion by the end of this June and $1.3 million by the end of the 2009-10 fiscal year.