Beginning next month, the Seattle Police Department will halt its hiring incentives for officers as the agency faces an uncertain fiscal future.

The change will begin Sept. 1, although it will not affect anyone submitting an application in August, KOMO-TV reports. Hiring incentives included $7,500 for entry-level officers and up to $50,000 for lateral officers, as well as other benefits. 

"A decision has been made to stop the hiring incentives until a time when the budget forecast for the Seattle Police Department is clear," the department stated in a news release. "We have a responsibility to the people of Seattle to provide the best police service while also being fiscally responsible. We will continue to hire some of the highest quality candidates in the country and are dedicated to helping keep Seattle a safe and welcoming city."

Seattle Police Officers Guild President Kent Loux criticized the decision, telling KING-TV that it undercuts the department's recruiting. According to Loux, Seattle's police force numbers 927 deployable officers, but it's aiming for 1,250.

"Why would you cut this program off?" he said. "We’ve had significant success recruiting people and just chopping it off at its knees suddenly seems irresponsible."

So far this year, the department has hired 108 officers. That's down slightly from last year, which saw 116 officers hired during the same span.