City Manager Fearborn presented details of a new Public Safety Sales Tax Fund created to track proceeds from a quarter‑cent sales tax voters approved in April to support hiring and equipping eight new officers for the Raymore Police Department.

The nut graf — why this matters: the council created a separate fund to provide transparency for sales‑tax revenue dedicated to public safety. How the city hires and trains new officers affects police staffing levels, patrol capacity, and near‑term public‑safety service delivery.

Fearborn said the fund will begin with an accrued beginning balance of about $83,033 (collections begin in October; operational activity begins Nov. 1), with projected FY26 operating revenue of $1,029,609 (including $1,026,289 in generated revenue and $3,321 in interest). Total FY26 expenditures are budgeted at $816,184 with a projected ending balance of $296,458. The fund will hold a required 17.5 percent restricted reserve ($142,832), leaving limited available balance in year one and staff recommended keeping that reserve in place into year two to absorb timing and hiring uncertainties.

Fearborn outlined hiring timing and costs: “We won't be snapping our fingers on November 1 and have 7 police officers and a detective hired. There will need to be a process,” he said, describing time‑to‑hire, academy attendance, cadet pay and field training costs. He said the proposed budget includes funding for academy expenses and paying cadets while in training for a portion of the new positions. He also confirmed the city's plan includes lateral hires and will place experienced hires on the pay chart to reflect their experience.

The presentation makes clear the first fiscal year will emphasize hiring, training, and equipping officers; staff recommended leaving some funds unallocated in year one to allow flexibility if the city hires already‑certified officers or needs to send recruits to the academy.

Ending: the council received the fund presentation; staff indicated future budget updates will expand the fund's reporting as hires are made and costs are realized. There was no formal vote during the work session.