The Onalaska Finance and Personnel Committee on April 2 approved an appropriations request to seek proposals for an outside police department staffing and facility study intended to produce independent data for any future alternative funding proposals.

Committee members debated the value and cost of hiring a consultant and weighed whether internal staff reports would carry sufficient credibility with the public. Chief Rick told the committee the study would “analyze our staffing, the facilities, potential growth, and where we are now and where we should be at, and give us a road map of where we should go,” and said the report would support any future referendum or funding request.

City Administrator Ted and other committee members said a third-party report could add credibility similar to a recent fire department study and might identify opportunities to share or co-locate facilities with the fire department to save money. Sabrina, the committee’s finance staff member, told the panel the city study fund currently holds $29,002.70 after a prior contract expense and that another contractual account contains about $3,400; she said a typical outside study has recently cost about $40,000–$50,000 and estimated the shortfall to complete a study at roughly $20,000.

Committee members expressed differing views. One member questioned whether paying a consultant was the best use of limited funds and said the chief and assistant chief might be able to produce the material internally. The city administrator and Sabrina replied that an independent study carries more weight with voters and funders. The committee approved the appropriations request; one committee member voted against the measure.

The committee’s approval authorizes staff to solicit proposals from consultants to perform the study and to identify how to cover any budget shortfall through year-end surpluses or reserves if necessary.

What happened next: staff said they would issue a request for proposals. The committee did not specify a preferred vendor or set a final contract amount at the meeting.