Jamestown — Council members pressed staff for a line-by-line accounting after being told the police department has operated below its budgeted headcount and that equipment and vehicle needs remain pressing.

A council member asked for a reconciliation of the 2025 police salary budget versus actual spending, saying, “If you don't spend everything that's in your budget, where did the balance go?” Staff replied that unspent amounts have been used elsewhere in the general fund and that overtime and comp time payments can deplete apparent savings.

Police leadership described vehicle-condition and replacement needs. The deputy chief provided usage data for the fleet and said some vehicles exceed 95,000 miles and are “hot-seated,” with annual mileages of roughly 35,000–40,000 miles on the busiest cars. Council members said the executive budget included funding for one new police cruiser but department leaders reiterated a request for two.

Council members also flagged a sharp reduction in the vehicle-repair budget from the prior year. One councilor said the repairs allocation dropped by $50,000 (from approximately $60,000 to $10,000 in the draft) and called that “not realistic.” Staff and police leaders said they will re-check current-year repair spending (a figure cited in the session was roughly $24,000 to date) and return with updated estimates.

Other items discussed in the police section included:
- The Axon contract (body cameras) is up for renewal this year; staff said the contract renewal process is starting.
- Grants for replacement body armor are currently on hold (staff reported outreach to a congressional office and confirmation that the program is not available this year), which means the city will cover costs for new officers until grants resume.

Council direction: council members asked staff to provide the 2025 budgeted amounts, actual expenditures on the police salary line, and updated vehicle-repair spending to clarify whether available funds can cover additional cruisers or repair needs.

No formal procurement decision was made at the session.