A decision by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court could have a big impact on the salaries of Wareham police officers.

Enacted in 1970, the Massachusetts Quinn Bill gives police officers salary increases based on the level of education they have completed. It was designed to encourage officers to pursue higher education, and earn degrees in law enforcement and criminal justice.

The deal was that the state would reimburse municipalities for 50% of the cost of funding the Quinn Bill, and the town would pay the other half. But in recent years, the state has drastically reduced its budget for its portion of the Quinn Bill, leaving towns on the hook for the difference.

That was until earlier this year, when the Supreme Judicial Court determined that the City of Boston did not have to continue paying the state's portion of the Quinn Bill. In the wake of that decision, Wareham's Finance Committee began exploring the town's obligation to pay the full 100%.

The FinCom found that the town, like the City of Boston, is only obligated to continue paying its 50%, and, in a letter to Selectmen, has recommended that the town stop funding the state's portion.

“Based on Wareham’s current fiscal situation, we recommend that the Board of Selectmen direct the Interim Town Administrator to stop paying the state’s portion of the Quinn Bill benefits, effective immediately,” the FinCom wrote.

Some police unions in Massachusetts have contended that, regardless of the court decision, towns are obligated to pay the state’s share of the Quinn Bill until collective bargaining agreements are renegotiated.

If the town decides to stop funding the state's portion of the Quinn Bill, it would save approximately $160,300. Because the town accepted the Quinn Bill at Town Meeting in 1974, the town would still have an obligation to pay its share, which would be approximately $202,000 for the current fiscal year.

The Selectmen plan to discuss the topic within the next couple of week.

“The bottom line is, ‘what is the law?” said Selectmen Chair Steve Holmes.

Holmes feels that whether the town is obligated to fund 50% or 100% of the Quinn Bill still has to be hashed out.

“The program has ultimately been extremely beneficial to the public, because there are now much more educated police officers on the street,” said Police Chief Richard Stanley. “It’s been instrumental in having police officers now who are problem-solvers, who are community-oriented.”

Stanley said he did not want to comment further, because the union is in the midst of contract negotiations related to the Quinn Bill.

“They might determine that it’s part of the contract,” said Marilyn Donahue of the Finance Committee.

Stanley himself receives $33,000 of his $166,000 salary due to the Quinn Bill.

If a municipality has the Quinn Bill incorporated into the collective bargaining agreement without any mitigating language, that municipality may be obligated to fund the full amount of the Quinn Bill.

Donahue says that although officers with more education may be better at their jobs, Wareham is facing a budget shortfall that she estimates will be “in excess of $1 million," and the Finance Committee is looking at all ways to reduce that gap.

Donahue pointed out that there are other educational incentives available to police officers, and stressed: “The Finance Committee and the administration are looking for every penny they can get."