They also voted, 3-2, to fund all five police positions that had been proposed. Over the weekend, Councilman Patrick J. Hickey threatened to vote against the budget if the two police officers were not kept in the budget.

Mayor Jeffrey M. Smith and Councilwoman Sarah V. Compo Pierce voted no for the budget, objecting that it adds 22 new positions, including the two in the police department.

They expressed concern that inflation will cause the robust national economy to take a turn for the worse and the city should take a more conservative approach to adding staff. They suggested creating the positions over time once it’s known what will happen with the national economy.

“Nothing is wrong being cautious,” Councilwoman Compo Pierce said before the vote.

Last week, Councilman Cliff G. Olney III was the only one who opposed cutting two of the five police officer positions from the budget.

After last week’s budget session, Councilwoman Lisa A. Ruggiero and Councilmen Hickey and Olney then talked to each other about adding all five police positions.

Mayor Smith and Councilwoman Compo Pierce also voted against the two police positions.

In his proposed budget, City Manager Kenneth A. Mix proposed adding 24 new positions at a cost of $1.4 million, saying that they would be covered by an unexpected increase in sales tax revenues.

Keeping the two officers in the budget will cost $177,667 in…