GOFFSTOWN - Police Chief Patrick Sullivan told the Board of Selectmen this week that he has exceeded his budget for police details, largely due to the New Hampshire presidential primary.

Sullivan said he is already $2,000 over his original budget of $60,000 for police details. He said the town spent about $15,000 on details in January alone because of the Democratic and Republican presidential debates at Saint Anselm College.

Sullivan estimates that by the end of the year the town will be $30,000 over budget. Since police details are reimbursed by the businesses or other private organizations that require them, the overage will not affect the tax rate. But Sullivan said it still would affect the Police Department budget because he has to balance it at the end of the fiscal year.

At the Monday, July 7, selectmen meeting, he proposed that the town establish a revolving account that would separate revenue and spending on police details from the general town fund. The town may also consider setting aside a similar revolving account for the Fire Department, according to Town Administrator Sue Desruisseaux.

Selectman Scott Gross said he thought the revolving fund was a good idea. But at least one board member has some reservations. John Caprio said he did not want to sequester police detail revenue from the general fund.