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Criminal Justice Council outlines FY26 budget, highlights canine trainer and large space charge
Summary
The Criminal Justice Council told the Senate Appropriations Committee on March 26 that its FY2026 request centers on salaries and benefits, adds a $114,000 canine training position, shows a large fee-for-space increase and relies on contracts and statutory mandates for recruit housing and meals.
Christopher Pecal, executive director of the Criminal Justice Council, told the Senate Appropriations Committee on March 26 that the council’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget is driven mainly by staff pay and benefits, a newly funded canine training position and a substantial increase in a fee-for-space charge allocated by finance management.
“The majority of... our budget is salary and benefits,” Pecal said, adding that food and housing for recruits are a statutory requirement. He told the committee the council’s general fund request includes “a little over 10% increase” totaling about $386,000 and that interdepartmental transfer (IDT) funds show an increase of roughly 13.89 percent.
Why it matters: the council runs statewide training classes and provides services used by municipal and state law enforcement. Changes to its operating budget affect how the council contracts for training, how it supports canine programs across agencies and how much the state pays for shared space costs.
Key details from the presentation and committee discussion:
- Staffing and operating mix: Pecal, joined by Lindsay Easterberg, director of administration, and Jason Kennard, the council’s budget analyst, said most work is accomplished through contracts listed under “other personal services.” The council has about 16 employees and runs two full-time recruit classes and three level-2 classes (formerly part-time), with each recruit course lasting about 17 weeks.
- Canine training position: The council requested funding to cover a canine trainer/coordinator position at about $114,000. Pecal explained the council previously relied on a staff member who combined training coordination and canine work; after that staff member retired, the council used contracts and vacancy savings to keep statewide canine training running. The council is now proposing a funded position (or funding for the contractor that performs that role) to sustain training and record-keeping for canines and handlers, and to help agencies start or manage canine programs.
- Fee-for-space increase: Jason Pina, identified in the record as with AOFSD, told the committee the fee-for-space increase is an allocation from finance management tied to space and program costs in Pittsfield. The council’s fee-for-space line increased by about $218,000; Pina said the total annual fee-for-space allocation is $1,119,574. Pecal said part of the increase stems from an attached wing (the West Cottage) that other users occupy.
- Funding mechanics and vacancy savings: Pecal said the council used vacancy savings in prior years to pay for contracted training when positions were unfilled but those vacancies have since been filled, reducing that temporary funding source. He told senators the $225,000 reduction shown on page 9 of the budget book reflected legislatively allocated dollars that were later moved into salaries and benefits once positions were formally filled.
- Fair and impartial policing and other positions: Pecal said the legislature previously approved two positions related to community inclusion and fair-and-impartial-policing training; the trainer post is new and the council recently hired someone. A separate policy/grant-writing position the council had sought was not approved in appropriations.
- Committee questions: Senators asked for clarifications on the canine position, whether it trains both dogs and handlers (Pecal: it does), the duration of recruit classes, the source of the fee-for-space increase and which positions remain unfunded. Senator Norris and Senator Rose pressed for clarity on vacancy-savings usage and prior requests for additional positions.
No formal committee votes or funding decisions were recorded during the hearing. Pecal and his team presented the council’s request and answered committee questions as the appropriations process continues.
Ending: The council’s request will proceed through the appropriations process; senators indicated the committee and the administration still must reconcile space allocations, vacancy-savings effects and which positions will be funded when the governor’s budget and final appropriations are settled.
