[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6081852,"mediaKeyId","2941377-9fb9dbf138a555776baf27337ff71828","parentId",2941377,"title","Neighborhood services seeks 8–9% increase; asks for positions funded by CRA, equipment still general fund cost","audioSeconds",648,"startMs",3514000,"endMs",4162000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2941377-9fb9dbf138a555776baf27337ff71828&start=3514&end=4162","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2941377-9fb9dbf138a555776baf27337ff71828/thumbnail_3514000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6081852/Delray-Beach/Palm-Beach-County/Florida/Neighborhood-services-seeks-89-increase-asks-for-positions-funded-by-CRA-equipment-still-general-fund-cost","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6081852-90be94eb9a48094234ed25b892a81087/orig.mp4?Expires=1775758014&Signature=Jr3kSErG6Yx8g58lEilEYWlzNeLpIEOPVvQkSlVE0obd6b4Sqs4v8Bserw0jTc-4PrZGz2LrKRmdc0ne0QqWMtoB6ECkPK5mpSrK4-Z8wXMDRZaabOpiNlrK9XrjiH0ZlBmSVMl12RSvgq8D4ofIUhhO0Gb395-GenPAgasSI0VaFRmqRGSuZUgC90Nt0MSG4ODHftF3~blS4coXAQlUwQu79ckfF2cLn2aNB6OGaFI-AKv8bp56iv0zag550FZP8f-9Dxoz0nWRwfLVAFSmiATsk0rxoNu4XivNeUS~S5PK73boVLBn0Rpl6sXo6pp7w~vYW8~H0al-xwuuF50ILg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Delray Beach, FL","date","2025-04-10T07:54:23.707Z","article","Jerry Pryor, director of Neighborhood and Community Services, presented the department’s preliminary FY2025–26 request at the Delray Beach budget workshop on April 8 and described a granular, line‑by‑line approach to the packet.

Pryor said the department’s work was done “item by item, line by line, division by division” and that the overall request is “about hovering about 8 to 9% increase from last year's budget.” He told commissioners the largest line‑item changes reflect officer safety and operational continuity: upgraded portable radios for code officers (needed because current radios do not interoperate with law enforcement and dispatch), increased training budgets to meet consultant recommendations, and requests for vehicles and small maintenance equipment to support Clean & Safe and CRA operations.

Pryor said the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) will fund certain positions — for example, an irrigation worker and an administrative position for the Clean & Safe district — but CRA policy does not typically fund vehicles and equipment. “CRA said, yes. We'll help fund the position, but you have to buy the equipment,” he said, explaining why the general fund includes vehicle and equipment requests tied to CRA‑funded positions. For sanitation services, Pryor proposed two night litter‑patrol positions charged to enterprise funds to address high overnight work after busy events.

Commissioners praised Pryor’s work since joining the city and asked for continued collaboration with finance and the city manager to identify operational efficiencies. Staff reiterated that these submissions are preliminary: finance will continue vetting, and the office of the city manager will expect departments to identify efficiencies to help reconcile the gap between projected revenues and departmental requests.

Commissioners also asked for a list of all city funds with balances and any restrictions; staff confirmed that the 596‑page packet includes the funds and that a more tailored schedule of fund balances and restricted vs. unrestricted funds would be provided on request.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Commission Budget Workshop Meeting 04-08-2025 3:00 PM","oneSentenceSummary","Director Jerry Pryor presented a line‑by‑line preliminary request for the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services, describing a roughly 8–9% increase driven by officer safety equipment, training and vehicles tied to CRA‑funded positions where equipment remains a general‑fund responsibility.","taxTitle","Delray Beach, Palm Beach County, Florida","taxId",5598,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6081856,"Police request raises FY2025–26 ask to about $55.7 million; department seeks civilian tech and evidence roles",728,2322000,3050000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2941377-9fb9dbf138a555776baf27337ff71828&start=2322&end=3050","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2941377-9fb9dbf138a555776baf27337ff71828/thumbnail_2322000.jpg","/articles/6081856/Delray-Beach/Palm-Beach-County/Florida/Police-request-raises-FY202526-ask-to-about-557-million-department-seeks-civilian-tech-and-evidence-roles","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6081856-bf605d8c9ba1420164547e3679a23cd8/orig.mp4?Expires=1775758014&Signature=DITwOYIzfLaPB6DcDxpQ6X~Mgw32rceBKMXy86oKRb59J1FBk2s5gbbMwYneMLpuwUEPU5dcNDfvXFtIwhp9W~yajBd82nfnyDbE4b~A02mSSJ69dVTlbNulMXyivlYtld~np761ah~clXz4vFZV28SQGmAP7rbnsVrUbIGnSLn8XLsZk7rR5aHls3S5ykgxIW3C35-STvzpIVJ6UC7s54WEtnk0SpyCsstnPBehI21heGIqSxWw7S2wizzSS2KdybmZUOqv--yPd9~v1Y2XHYywpyRQDpUT4WAeZIsXYCuY1GkDXhbss3JUQn75AeRw4-JqqfTdX3V0vOzSDarYqw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Police Chief Russ Major told the Delray Beach City Commission on April 8 that the Police Department’s preliminary FY2025–26 request exceeds the current‑year amended budget and aims to fund personnel and technology needs tied to staffing shortages and rising overtime.

Chief Major said the packet shows an amended FY2024–25 budget of $50.3 million and that the department’s initial request was “over 55,900,000.0,” later revised to $55,700,000. “Out of the 5,400,000 difference, 4,400,000 is in personnel services,” he said, adding that overtime is a significant driver: the department estimates roughly $3,900,000 in overtime next year because of staffing shortfalls, non‑deployable personnel and pay‑rate changes tied to an upcoming collective bargaining agreement.

Major outlined four civilian professional staff requests intended to free sworn officers for patrol and investigative duties: an evidence custodian (to be reclassified to evidence supervisor and backfilled with a custodian), an audiovisual administrator to manage camera systems and validations, an administrative office coordinator to replace a part‑time role, and an application support specialist to manage roughly 40 public‑safety software applications. Major told commissioners the city has invested “approximately about $1,200,000 into” new camera and technology systems that will require dedicated administration.

Police Administrative Services Manager Christina Maricich read a department overview into the record, stressing the department’s breadth beyond street patrol: “we what we consider ourselves is a full service police department,” she said, listing units that include dispatch, crime scene, evidence, investigations, criminal intelligence and a real‑time crime center, a marine unit, a dive team, problem‑oriented policing, a clean and safe unit, a community outreach team, a traffic unit and accreditation staff.

Commissioners thanked staff for the granular packet and asked for executive summaries and targeted follow‑up questions for the next cycle. Commissioner Markert and others requested clarity about large “miscellaneous” line items and grants and asked whether school‑security work is reimbursed by the School Board; staff said some services are funded by separate agreements and the packet includes multiple fund types.

Finance staff reiterated the process timetable: these departmental submissions are preliminary requests; finance and the city manager will vet them and present a proposed balanced budget after June workshops and additional review.","Police Chief Russ Major presented a preliminary departmental request that the city packet listed above $55.9 million and was later revised to $55.7 million; the department asked for four civilian professional positions to free sworn officers for patrol and identified a projected overtime budget of about $3.9 million.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6081860,"Delray Beach fire chief outlines preliminary $7.6 million operating ask, urges risk assessment",972,326000,1298000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2941377-9fb9dbf138a555776baf27337ff71828&start=326&end=1298","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2941377-9fb9dbf138a555776baf27337ff71828/thumbnail_326000.jpg","/articles/6081860/Delray-Beach/Palm-Beach-County/Florida/Delray-Beach-fire-chief-outlines-preliminary-76-million-operating-ask-urges-risk-assessment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6081860-fde14caf63c6e0f168767b65831416a0/orig.mp4?Expires=1775758014&Signature=iN2CyP1uUJPurKFZB1GHY-Lehpy~Q8CygvP8at7puadBHHXDD3OdvBTjJbm~KdOKNhTJW-YuhtRVK6Cm0cPd-PDa4AhQY47ueqkCMOZc0-BNAzsBntvXm8euonuCN33FA~NabZF580J0hIn6SzeFqgQbYJ1KL7HNU2M~om2yBEnkfJe17I-2PMUS1NgFy1cgpSw4RflSiwhT2Sdle3PYG7RglMbR6nE70k~U9NVzqhbZU4xe1e1yXy3lDE9voA6nLHtUyqhPijd1YsRqV9ecNDjjVdRWCIpwFIuMPH8NXx3aWjkYgirbxwRzyLOdiIf7TlWziAEMCY5h8zqlmpsuuw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Fire Rescue Chief Ronald Martin presented the Delray Beach Fire Rescue Department’s preliminary FY2025–26 operating request during the city’s April 8 budget workshop, telling the City Commission the department used a zero‑based budgeting approach and built in a 5–6% inflation assumption.

Martin said the department’s preliminary operational figure was $6,961,609, which he said represents an increase of roughly 9.75% over current‑year operating figures after the department scanned its five program areas and identified additional needs in emergency management and homeland security. After eliminating duplicated legacy expenditures and adding the emergency‑management increase, Martin said total operating cost in the preliminary request is $7,631,816.

The proposal reflected operational changes Martin said the department has already implemented this fiscal year, including tighter fiscal controls on purchases approaching $5,000, reclassification of some positions in collective bargaining with Local 1842 to exempt executive classifications, and steps to reduce overtime. He called for further planning and evaluation tools, saying the city should commission an independent community risk assessment and a fire strategic plan to set long‑term funding and operational priorities.

The mayor and commissioners pressed for context and next steps. Mayor Carney warned that, using the packet numbers, costs for “fire and police” together would outstrip projected ad valorem revenue and said the city must decide whether to raise revenues or reduce spending. “If you just go with this number, our cost for fire and police is 113 percent of our ad valorem taxes,” the mayor said, noting contracts and wage commitments limit near‑term flexibility.

Chief Martin defended the department’s approach, emphasizing sustainability and the department’s controls. He described items in the emergency management budget such as FEMA‑specific training, planning for feeding and 72‑hour staff provisions, and a small restricted contingency for large all‑hands emergency operations. Martin said those emergency‑management items account for the “majority of our uptake in operational expenses.”

City staff described the timetable and follow‑up: today’s presentation was one of four department workshops (April 8, April 22, May 6 and May 20), with a June 10 meeting planned for an aggregate budget discussion and a formal proposed operating budget to follow in July. Finance staff said the materials distributed April 4 included 596 pages of line‑item data and that the materials are an early, unvetted “first pass.”

Commissioners requested clearer summary materials and comparative columns for future packets (for example, percent variance versus the amended FY2024–25 budget), and asked staff to continue vetting personnel calculations and overtime projections with departments. Staff acknowledged the packet was preliminary and said they would provide executive summaries and refined worksheets for the next sessions.

Martin concluded that with deeper review and collaboration he expects to reduce some of the initial increases, but reiterated his recommendation that a community risk assessment and formal strategic planning for fire rescue be adopted to guide long‑term funding and staffing decisions.","Fire Rescue Chief Ronald Martin presented a preliminary FY2025–26 operating request that includes a $6.96 million baseline for operations and a $7.63 million total operating figure after program adjustments, and urged a formal community risk assessment and strategic plan to set long-term priorities.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Neighborhood services seeks 8–9% increase; asks for positions funded by CRA, equipment still general fund cost

Police request raises FY2025–26 ask to about $55.7 million; department seeks civilian tech and evidence roles

Delray Beach fire chief outlines preliminary $7.6 million operating ask, urges risk assessment