[{"_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",6014568,"mediaKeyId","5793017-1d5c3579b6c5c99e16f96d25c0ce8436","parentId",5793017,"title","Committee reviews 2026 police and dispatch budget shifts, uniform and IT costs","audioSeconds",484,"startMs",1390009,"endMs",1874300,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5793017-1d5c3579b6c5c99e16f96d25c0ce8436&start=1390&end=1874","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5793017-1d5c3579b6c5c99e16f96d25c0ce8436/thumbnail_1390009.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6014568/Monona/Dane-County/Wisconsin/Committee-reviews-2026-police-and-dispatch-budget-shifts-uniform-and-IT-costs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6014568-71000b1ef88cb96d9a0cb62367bf02f3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770505877&Signature=oU3pl3ZmlunjSipnels8KLO2hFelFUlpNqqvdGjdpDLpcQyksUFxoWVjxEPTzCgJP85KGovhfPhu744vBtt8eY8yT9Dc~pYw1eaM6G2qMjzGz2TLyKf6draVTsKAaAJFPXFzieYrxzfJWsWLOHsEsgVXebpfimgtO0Ben63g5yrvVb3Tzxo77D~b1KUcgbUd8W8lwF9N7vYzaSDZFMrDGFZCTte25MowMxxM6KJ5tjdtsCP6PY8opZszSdB3NWjChyop5lP1xT2-wXxXvzpuWmJY4E7~3lHcbsgiH155KVbwBinYyKM~k2mf1G0NlsCQfw6GjXOg7ppYY1PwF9UXLQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Monona, WI","date","2025-08-29T15:10:54Z","article","At the Aug. 27 meeting, the Public Safety Committee heard a first reading of the police and emergency communications operating budget proposals for 2026, describing how the department would use a 3% levy-guideline increase and internal reallocations to cover rising uniform, equipment and licensing costs.
The Police Chief said professional-development funding remains in place alongside $15,000 in referendum training funds, and that the department is shifting more law-enforcement-specific office and equipment costs from the dispatch budget into the police operating budget so dispatch — which has a tighter margin — is not overburdened. “We were using dispatch funding for things that were primarily law enforcement. So we're doing sort of a switch,” the Police Chief said.
Why it matters: the proposed reallocations and operating increases affect patrol unit readiness, vehicle maintenance planning and recurring software/licensing costs that will otherwise have been requested as capital expenditures.
Key points
- Uniform and equipment increases: The police presentation described substantial price increases for uniform items and safety equipment (vests, shirts, pants). The chief said the uniform allowance is being raised from about $22,200 to $26,210 and noted some of that increase is tied to contractual obligations with the department’s labor agreement.
- IT licensing reclassification: The finance director and department staff recommended moving the annual software/license cost for in-car video and body-worn camera software from the capital budget to operating, priced in the presentation at roughly $16,000. Staff said the mayor’s forthcoming capital proposal may treat the expense differently, but the operating budget currently includes that amount.
- Vehicle maintenance and fleet rotation: The police presentation said vehicle maintenance costs will increase because the department anticipates keeping patrol squads longer than the typical five-year rotation amid citywide efforts to reduce borrowing. Staff said extended retention beyond warranty will raise maintenance costs.
- Dispatch and shared services: The presentation described the city’s participation in an intergovernmental records and RMS consortium that provides shared analytics and a crime analyst; staff said adding one suburban partner slightly reduces per-agency cost but warned that expanding membership further could reduce agency control and possibly raise costs.
Discussion vs. decision
- Discussion only: Committee members discussed uniform allowances, reallocation of dispatch-billed items, vehicle maintenance projections and IT licensing placement. Staff said the changes are intended to keep the department within the 3% guidance while addressing rising costs.
- Direction/assignment: Staff and the finance director will continue to coordinate with the mayor’s office on whether the $16,000 license expense remains an operating cost or returns to capital requests during the broader budget process.
- Formal action: None on budget approval; the materials were presented for first reading only.
Ending: Staff asked the committee to treat the presentation as the first read and said the department will return with final budget documents and any clarifications on dispatch cost allocations.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Public Safety Committee - August 27, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At the Aug. 27 meeting, the Public Safety Committee heard a first reading of police and emergency communications operating budget proposals for 2026, describing how the department would use a 3% levy-guideline increase and internal reallocations to cover rising uniform, equipment and licensing costs.","taxTitle","Monona, Dane County, Wisconsin","taxId",70921,"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},6014573,"Public Safety Committee reviews 2026 fire and EMS operating budget proposals",2752,49815,2802550,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5793017-1d5c3579b6c5c99e16f96d25c0ce8436&start=49&end=2802","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5793017-1d5c3579b6c5c99e16f96d25c0ce8436/thumbnail_49815.jpg","/articles/6014573/Monona/Dane-County/Wisconsin/Public-Safety-Committee-reviews-2026-fire-and-EMS-operating-budget-proposals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6014573-5b1c7fe6c711ec709a90da873cc793bf/orig.mp4?Expires=1770505877&Signature=aPO9tlYaZwJnunMnFnztg6DTvBy7bsoI2eOeZ9ZFJbPB3tZDQUDekDNoR1jFJtj5Oqu7M98-wFfPwi4xRdN8eLBdIPrZScsaFhw11EP8SIES46wF6RmpJjHlBvSjhWgnndULprS3M~h04UrX~nSZnaA-swTv5-0Ku43RFEVlRJM-bYQeRulYVmtdjuHyp8vwdb5SL0U2bQppJtP2A~H09GVVDFi1~Kr8iCjbBc0xBUtd-87T0zvEz5a5L--CPWZYevTUvgBvMbeqscVlrUkV72HE8hlmHB64uE-VrZPWNwWVfy09-gudhcbXdHxQO5tH~fB1JVaTnvAaInAUcRrrfA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its Aug. 27 meeting, the Public Safety Committee took a first look at the proposed 2026 operating budgets for the fire department and ambulance service, reviewing current-year results, projected revenue streams and priority increases under a citywide 3% levy-cap guideline.
The fire department presentation showed a current-year “holdover” balance of $858,000 and reported the department is about 5.5% under budget through August. The Fire Chief said staffing was down two full-time members for the first two months of the year and that overtime and maintenance pressures remain the primary budget risks. “One of the nice things on overtime…we’re up $4,000 overall, which…is a pretty light number compared to where we have been in years past,” the Fire Chief said.
Why it matters: the committee’s review frames the department’s request ahead of citywide budget deliberations. The presentation identified several specific cost drivers — unexpectedly large repair bills, equipment and telephone charges — that will shape whether the department must draw fund balance or shift other line items.
Key points from the presentation
- Current-year position and carryover: The Fire Chief said the department’s carryover (holdover) is $858,000 and the department is about 5.5% under budget for the year through August. He reported the department is at roughly 61.5% of budget at that point in the year. (presentation)
- Maintenance and equipment spikes: The chief described multiple one-time or episodic repair costs that increase maintenance spending, including a $13,000 ladder maintenance bill and an $18,000 engine repair that was reduced after warranty/coverage; he said such failures can rapidly raise maintenance totals compared with prior budget years. The presentation noted prior maintenance totals as high as “$30,000–$40,000” in previous years as context.
- Telephone/IT billing anomaly: The chief said a large telephone line-item spike was due to two “cradle point” routers previously assumed to be billed to IT; those hardware charges posted to the fire budget this year and explained a 254% increase in that line as billed. The chief said staff are working to sort the invoice allocation.
- Overtime and mutual-aid revenue: The presentation described department staff working mutual-aid details for neighboring jurisdictions and special events. The Fire Chief said contracted event work is billed at a flat rate and the department offsets overtime costs with those reimbursements.
- Ambulance revenue and GEMT: The ambulance operating review showed gross charges billed at roughly $1.2 million year-to-date; contractual reductions (federal and insurer adjustments) were reported at about $636,000 leaving net billings near $536,000 so far. The chief said the system’s collection rate so far is in the low 80s percent and that this is above national averages. He also said pending GEMT (Ground Emergency Medical Transportation) reimbursements for fiscal years 2023 and 2024 have cleared desk review and are expected to add about $37,000 to revenues, with payouts anticipated in September and November.
- Levy-cap and proposed increases: Staff said the city’s instruction limited department levy increases to no more than 3%. After accounting for wage and benefit changes at the city level, the Fire Chief said the department’s non-personnel, levy-driven increase available was about $7,800; that amount is being allocated across several modest line-item increases (professional development, clothing/uniform allowance, physical exams, EMS supplies).
- Career-ladder and retention: On the ambulance side, staff proposed funding for a career-ladder/step progression to improve retention among full-time EMS staff. The chief characterized the item as a multi-year effort and said a separate line item is shown in the proposal to pay for the ladder; the committee did not adopt the funding at the meeting.
Discussion vs. decision
- Discussion only: Committee members and department staff discussed maintenance volatility, telephone billing reallocation, mutual-aid revenue and the GEMT reimbursements. Several line-item increases (training props, uniform allowances, physicals) were described and justified; the committee did not take final budget votes at the meeting.
- Direction/assignment: Staff said they will continue sorting the telephone/invoice allocations and return with clarified line-item detail at the next review. The Fire Chief invited committee members to ask follow-up questions between meetings.
- Formal action: None on the 2026 fire or ambulance budgets; items were presented for first reading and discussion only.
Ending: The department will return to the committee for additional review; staff emphasized that the current materials represented a first read and that more detailed allocation and corrected invoice allocations will be provided at a subsequent meeting.","At its Aug. 27 meeting, the Public Safety Committee received a first reading of the fire and ambulance 2026 operating budget requests, covering personnel costs, maintenance spikes, ambulance revenue performance and expected GEMT reimbursements; no formal budget votes were taken.",{"_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},6014565,"Committee hears staffing, recruitment and project updates for police and fire",271,2368675,2639734,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5793017-1d5c3579b6c5c99e16f96d25c0ce8436&start=2368&end=2639","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5793017-1d5c3579b6c5c99e16f96d25c0ce8436/thumbnail_2368675.jpg","/articles/6014565/Monona/Dane-County/Wisconsin/Committee-hears-staffing-recruitment-and-project-updates-for-police-and-fire","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6014565-3289e20f15e76b43376fc74bb254545d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770505877&Signature=aFoeoBVKQ5MKJlZag3IOhkMIpOZe06SJr3Z9PfY2AV19d03Edi-ierbQ~sbHnBTqsZA2mi6AxCIuPv2M-pI49IGB1T81xTiNUd0t2AsYupe43v~YxHgRliKLKQaN8vRMrNfFxzaPv5UytBHSgQsceNZw3Iz1YPKCo-iE80r9YvJ2404x3JIg2eAlDxN80TkFE0YAqJYs3DTAo2aIkFxjhazvWUvv7bU9j3~NoB3CGotdoWEXI5933m5yi0c4g7HYm7i-lTmT9tCoPO7utTol~fz1Xu20p6wQBZrNP5ex7lHgHQbaMdG-GAziR24Se1~D8ML81SwjCcjt9l9ZO-8GdA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the Aug. 27 meeting, committee members received multiple operational updates from police and fire staff covering recruitment, volunteer programs, new equipment and community outreach. Most items were presented as informational reports; no formal approvals were taken.
Why it matters: staffing and auxiliary programs affect response capacity and community engagement. Several items described concrete near-term operational changes and fundraising-dependent programs.
Key updates
- Recruitment and staffing: The police department reported one open full-time position and described an expanded candidate approach that will accept both already-certified officers and candidates who require academy training. The department has reserved a seat in the next academy should they hire a candidate who needs certification. The Fire Chief reported recruitment for POP (part-time/volunteer) positions is strong; 21 applicants were received in the opening window and the department expects to make multiple conditional offers in mid-September.
- Internships and part-time hires: The police department said its internship program is highly rated by a regional university and that current interns have applied for permanent positions. The Police and Fire Commission authorized a part-time officer who is now on patrol; that officer is also a full-time firefighter elsewhere and a former Madison Police Department employee.
- Chaplain and mental-health supports: Departments announced a new chaplain (Pastor Shannon) who will provide faith-based support and will pursue counseling/social-work licensure; both departments also reported continuing Employee Assistance Program services through Healthy Minds and indicated their insurer may cover some counseling sessions for first responders.
- Drone acquisition and shared capability: Fire staff said the fire department purchased a drone that matches the police drone model to enable shared batteries, parts and cross-trained pilots. The chief said remote-pilot (Part 107) training for volunteers is funded through professional-development money; the drone will be used for search-and-rescue, structure fire reconnaissance and pre-plans that integrate with dispatch. “We bought a drone that matches what PD has…so batteries are swappable,” the Fire Chief said, adding that the drone includes thermal imaging and “eye detection” capabilities.
- K-9 program and fundraising: Staff thanked council members and community donors for supporting the canine program and said the program runs on donated funds; the department promoted an upcoming canine golf fundraiser at a local course.
Discussion vs. decision
- Discussion only: Committee members discussed recruitment strategies, academy seats, and the role of the drone in search-and-rescue. A recent mass-search event was cited as justification for the drone capability.
- Direction/assignment: No formal assignments recorded; staff will continue recruitment and training activities and will return with program updates in future reports.
- Formal action: None recorded; hiring authorizations and part-time appointment were processed through the Police and Fire Commission before the committee meeting (reported to the committee).
Ending: Staff emphasized the departments’ focus on recruitment and on maintaining volunteer and donation-supported programs while integrating new technology for incident response.","Committee members received updates on recruitment, internships, the POP volunteer program, a new chaplain arrangement, EAP services, a canine fundraising program and a matching drone purchase for search-and-rescue and training; these were informational reports, not formal actions.","actionData","errors"]

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Committee reviews 2026 police and dispatch budget shifts, uniform and IT costs

Public Safety Committee reviews 2026 fire and EMS operating budget proposals

Committee hears staffing, recruitment and project updates for police and fire