Police request raises FY2025–26 ask to about $55.7 million; department seeks civilian tech and evidence roles
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Summary
Police Chief Russ Major presented a preliminary departmental request that the city packet listed above $55.9 million and was later revised to $55.7 million; the department asked for four civilian professional positions to free sworn officers for patrol and identified a projected overtime budget of about $3.9 million.
Police Chief Russ Major told the Delray Beach City Commission on April 8 that the Police Department’s preliminary FY2025–26 request exceeds the current‑year amended budget and aims to fund personnel and technology needs tied to staffing shortages and rising overtime.
Chief Major said the packet shows an amended FY2024–25 budget of $50.3 million and that the department’s initial request was “over 55,900,000.0,” later revised to $55,700,000. “Out of the 5,400,000 difference, 4,400,000 is in personnel services,” he said, adding that overtime is a significant driver: the department estimates roughly $3,900,000 in overtime next year because of staffing shortfalls, non‑deployable personnel and pay‑rate changes tied to an upcoming collective bargaining agreement.
Major outlined four civilian professional staff requests intended to free sworn officers for patrol and investigative duties: an evidence custodian (to be reclassified to evidence supervisor and backfilled with a custodian), an audiovisual administrator to manage camera systems and validations, an administrative office coordinator to replace a part‑time role, and an application support specialist to manage roughly 40 public‑safety software applications. Major told commissioners the city has invested “approximately about $1,200,000 into” new camera and technology systems that will require dedicated administration.
Police Administrative Services Manager Christina Maricich read a department overview into the record, stressing the department’s breadth beyond street patrol: “we what we consider ourselves is a full service police department,” she said, listing units that include dispatch, crime scene, evidence, investigations, criminal intelligence and a real‑time crime center, a marine unit, a dive team, problem‑oriented policing, a clean and safe unit, a community outreach team, a traffic unit and accreditation staff.
Commissioners thanked staff for the granular packet and asked for executive summaries and targeted follow‑up questions for the next cycle. Commissioner Markert and others requested clarity about large “miscellaneous” line items and grants and asked whether school‑security work is reimbursed by the School Board; staff said some services are funded by separate agreements and the packet includes multiple fund types.
Finance staff reiterated the process timetable: these departmental submissions are preliminary requests; finance and the city manager will vet them and present a proposed balanced budget after June workshops and additional review.
