POULSBO — Poulsbo taxpayers fund thousands of dollars in overtime costs for police protection provided to local events and festivals, and city officials say event organizers may soon have to cover those costs themselves.

The city is scaling back spending while writing its 2011 budget, which may not have room to absorb such expenditures, Poulsbo Mayor Becky Erickson said.

“The overtime hours, especially for police, are substantial. It costs a lot of money for the city to do this,” she said.

Police overtime costs incurred in 2010 during Viking Fest and Third of July, Poulsbo’s two largest and most popular events, totaled nearly $16,000. Poulsbo police worked more than 200 hours in overtime during the three-day Viking Fest in May, to the tune of more than $11,500. More than 80 overtime hours were worked by police during Third of July, costing nearly $4,500.

Aside from Viking Fest and Third of July, the city hosts a street dance, which began in 2008 as a celebration of the city’s centennial. Other events include outdoor concerts and road races.

Police presence is determined by the size of an event, as well as the crowd it attracts. Some events, such as Midsommer Fest, don’t require increased police presence.

“If they have a beer garden, that’s an indication police are necessary,” said Poulsbo Sgt. Robert Wright.

For an event like Viking Fest, all 15 department officers are required, either to patrol downtown or provide basic services elsewhere. Officers are sometimes scheduled for shifts of up to 16 hours, and are stacked more heavily in evening hours when adults are likely to be drinking in one of the nine bars downtown, rather than during the day when event activities cater to families, Wright said.

Assault is the most common crime to occur during a large event, and officers keep an eye out for gang and drug activity, Wright said. Weather is also a factor.

“The hotter it is, the busier we keep,” he said.

Standard pay for an officer of more than five years is $31.37 per hour, according to the city’s budget. At time-and-a-half, the overtime pay rate becomes about $47 per hour.

A group of two dozen unpaid volunteer reserve officers patrolled major events in the past, but Poulsbo now only has a handful of reserves. Those numbers have dwindled since the 1990s as the price of vetting a volunteer candidate reached close to $1,000. The department also eliminated an officer position last year. Those decreases meant small changes to event security, such as unmanned barricades where, normally, an officer would be on site to direct traffic.

Beginning two years ago, the city of Bainbridge Island asked event organizers to front full costs for officers at a rate of roughly $90 per hour, said Finance Director Elray Konkel. The city initiated the change in the face of massive budget shortfalls. Officers were previously provided at a decreased rate, Konkel said.

Viking Fest, Third of July and the Street Dance depend heavily on sponsorships each year. The Viking Fest Corporation took over Third of July in 2008 when its organizers announced the celebration was canceled due to lack of sponsor funding.

Viking Fest president Ron Krell was warned by the city that organizers may have to fund overtime costs for future events. They already face some hefty price tags: Insurance for Viking Fest costs about $11,500, and the costs of portable restrooms, dumpsters, fireworks and electricity are on the rise, Krell said. Viking Fest also needs to replace its electrical system, which will likely cost $5,000.

“It’s obviously another big hole in the budget,” he said.

Viking Fest draws between 30,000 and 40,000 people to the streets of Poulsbo each May. The event, host to a Scandinavian village, community parade and carnival, marked its 42nd year this summer.

Erickson said the city’s limited resources have forced staff to look at overtime spending, but that shouldn’t be taken as a reflection on the value of community events.

“As our budget situation tightens, it’s my responsibility to look at everything,” Erickson said.

The city council will likely make a decision before the end of the year, as they shape the 2011 budget.

Erickson said she hopes they can find a way to continue supporting events and hopes citizens step up to help as well.

“These festivals are part of what our community heritage is about. They need to be protected and preserved,” she said. “It’s going to be difficult.”