City officials at the Oct. 6 Grand Junction workshop said the recommended 2026 budget targets significant investments in public safety, including added sworn officers, new fire positions and upgrades to vehicles, radios and communications infrastructure.

City Manager Mike and department leaders framed the changes as responses to staffing constraints and equipment end-of-life issues identified by police and fire leadership.

Key police items

- Staffing: Police would receive five additional sworn officers in 2026, a hiring plan the chief said is intended to create a sustainable recruitment cadence. Chief Smith told council, “Our number should be about a 165 sworn. Right now, we’re at a 130,” and described a hiring plan that keeps the department competitive in the regional market.

- Tactical equipment: The police department recommended purchasing a new BearCat armored vehicle and paying for it with impact-fee revenue. Chief Smith said the county’s BearCat is nearly 17 years old and shared among agencies; adding another unit in Mesa County would improve local availability.

- Facility planning: The budget funds a 2026 feasibility study for a police annex, with staff estimating $2 million for preconstruction/architectural planning in 2026 and an estimated $33 million construction cost in 2027 if the project proceeds. Staff presented certificates of participation (COP) as one financing option.

- Communications and radios: The recommended plan includes replacement of consoles, headsets, handheld and mobile radios, tower upgrades and a transition to an enhanced DTR radio system for state compatibility. Chief Smith described a phased replacement approach to avoid large, one-time capital spikes.

Fire department investments and new EMS approaches

- Staffing: The fire department proposed eight new positions, including three community paramedics, a fire inspector position to restore a recently lost post, and one additional battalion chief to improve day coverage and span of control.

- Community paramedic program: Chief Smith described a pilot program to station community paramedics at Station 7 to respond to lower-acuity EMS calls — the so-called "alpha" calls — and to link frequent users to social services. "If we can tackle those high utilizers and give them the services they need," Smith said, "200 calls is a lot of calls to drop off the board."

- Billing and partnerships: Staff said some community paramedic services are billable when transports occur; state Medicaid billing rules were noted as evolving. The department reported early conversations with hospitals and a local EMS medical director who expressed support and potential equipment or funding assistance.

Staff emphasized the investments are calibrated to address current performance gaps: recruitment and retention in police, aging tactical equipment, capacity constraints at the police station and radio systems that have reached the end of manufacturer support. Council members asked about pay adjustments, overtime and grant opportunities that could offset costs.

Speakers and sources

Chief Smith — Chief of Public Safety (government)
City Manager Mike — City Manager (government)
Jody — Budget/finance staff (government)

Provenance:

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