In a recent government meeting, council members engaged in a detailed discussion regarding the city’s budget, focusing on vehicle procurement and personnel funding. The council confirmed its decision to forgo the enterprise fleet model for upgrading city vehicles, citing budgetary constraints. However, the need for four new police vehicles was emphasized, alongside concerns about the aging fleet, with some vehicles reportedly averaging just 3.5 miles per gallon.

Council member O'Brien advocated for funding a shift differential for police personnel and a tiered fitness incentive. While the fitness incentive could be funded through existing budget reallocations, the shift differential would require additional funding. The council appeared supportive of adding the shift differential to the budget.

Further discussions included the hiring of a new court position, which is not scheduled to begin until next year. Some council members questioned the necessity of allocating funds for a position that would not be filled for nearly a year. However, it was argued that maintaining the position in the budget would provide flexibility for future staffing needs, especially given the impact of recent personnel changes on court operations.

The meeting concluded with no objections to the proposed budget items, and council members expressed a desire to clarify the distinction between needs and wants in the budget, particularly regarding new line items requested by various departments. The council's focus remains on addressing immediate needs while navigating the complexities of budget allocations for the upcoming fiscal year.