Frankfort Police Chief Scott Shoemaker expressed alarm this week about how statewide property tax changes and potential local revenue losses could impact essential city services — especially police recruiting and retention — in the coming months.
Appearing Thursday morning on WILO’s Party Line program, Shoemaker said the combination of new property tax caps and delayed state credits could leave municipalities scrambling to balance budgets.
“I’m really concerned about the budget,” Shoemaker said. “This will be the first budget where I don’t know how the city cuts without cutting people.”
Tax Relief Now, Cuts Later
The chief said that while residents might welcome short‑term savings at the gas pump or base property tax reductions, those same measures threaten funding stability for public safety and municipal services.
“People get excited about saving seventeen cents a gallon,” he said, referring to the state’s temporary pause on fuel taxes. “But when we’re not paving roads or filling potholes later, we’ll be complaining about that too.”
Shoemaker cautioned that the state’s recently enacted Senate Bill 1, which adjusts property tax collections and credits, will not provide real relief until next year — even as city departments are already facing belt‑tightening.
“These bills people are paying now fund this year’s budget,” Shoemaker explained. “The changes everyone’s expecting don’t take effect until next year, which is when the real cuts will hit.”
He added that the City of Frankfort could be forced to reduce up to $1 million, a challenge he said is nearly impossible “without cutting people and services.”
Recruiting Challenges and Pay Disparities
Beyond the budget numbers, Shoemaker said competitive pay has become a growing concern for his department. Compared with similar‑sized cities, Frankfort’s police salaries have fallen dramatically in recent years.
“In 2018, we were near the top 10 percent of cities our size,” Shoemaker said. “Now we’ve dropped to about 110th out of more than 140 departments statewide. Everyone else has surged ahead.”
He described policing as “one of the hardest jobs to hire for today,” citing other agencies offering college incentives, shift differentials, and court‑time pay that Frankfort cannot currently match. “We’ll soon be opening a new hiring process,” he said. “I’m anxious to see how many applicants we get.”
Transparency and the Ongoing K‑9 Investigation
Shoemaker also addressed public reaction to video footage circulating of a police K‑9 handling incident, emphasizing that proper investigative procedures are being followed.
“People saw the video and rightfully were upset,” he said. “But this is not something we can rush. Police officers are not at‑will employees — there’s a legal process we must follow.”
He noted that the Boone County Sheriff’s Office is leading an independent criminal inquiry that takes priority over any internal discipline. Shoemaker said both he and Mayor Judy Sheets are limited in what they can publicly discuss while the investigation is active.
“We’re being as transparent as we can without compromising the process,” he said. “It may not be what people want, but it’s the right way.”
Community Frustrations and Facebook Debates
Much of Shoemaker’s interview reflected concern about misinformation on social media — particularly surrounding taxes, government spending, and city services.
“We Google how to cook a chicken, but we can’t Google how property taxes work,” he quipped. “There’s a lot of complaining online, but not a lot of phone calls to city hall.”
Shoemaker said community members should engage directly with their elected officials instead of posting grievances on Facebook. “If your recycling doesn’t get picked up, call the street department,” he said. “Posting it online won’t fix the problem.”
Looking Ahead
As he nears his 20‑year mark with the department, Shoemaker said he remains committed to guiding the city through financial uncertainty and public scrutiny alike. Shoemaker gave a brief update on Deputy Chief Cesar Munoz who was injured in a serious head-on crash on the morning of March 6, 2026. Munoz is making good progress and discussions are underway with medical advisors on his ability to restart some office duties.
“We’re a family here,” he said. “I love every minute of this job, even with the challenges. We’re going to keep doing things the right way — by the book and for the community.”
During the interview, Shoemaker made reference to a famous quote he has posted in or near his office from President Theodore Roosevelt from 1910:
