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Enid commissioners review police budget as department adds officers and studies unified 911
Summary
City commissioners discussed the police departmentbudget, including planned hiring, equipment needs and a feasibility study for a unified 9-1-1 dispatch, with no formal vote taken.
Enid commissioners spent part of a special budget meeting reviewing proposed police spending for fiscal 2025-26 and discussing plans to boost staffing and modernize dispatch operations.
City finance staff presented the police fund projections and noted personnel and technology costs rising next year. The department expects to outfit new officers with vehicles, tablets, radios, body cameras and other equipment as it brings recruits on and replaces aging technology.
Police leaders told commissioners the department currently lists about 74 patrol officers and is hiring aggressively: nine officers were recently hired and will start academy training July 1, while five are graduating from the academy this week. The chief said 10 of the newly hired officers should be on the street within a year and that the department could reach its budgeted total of about 100 officers when administrative and supervisory positions are included. "We just hired 9 additional officers. They start the academy July 1, and we'll get out sometime probably in November," one speaker said.
Officials also described a feasibility study already underway for a unified 9-1-1 dispatch center covering multiple jurisdictions. A speaker involved with the study said it will take about six months to complete the feasibility phase and another year or two for design and construction depending on recommendations. "We both believe that's gonna be beneficial to our community and our county as a whole," the speaker said.
Commissioners and staff noted one mandated pension cost increase will raise the city contribution from 13% to 14% for certain public safety retirement benefits; the increase was reflected in personnel cost projections. Officials emphasized much of the department's operational cost growth stems from equipment, technology and pension changes rather than head count alone.
No formal budget vote or ordinance was adopted during the meeting; commissioners scheduled further review during the next session on capital (the meeting will reconvene to review green funds).
