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Council questions sustainability of police drug-forfeiture fund as department draws down recent purchases
Summary
Police presented changes to the drug forfeiture account, including recent large purchases and an estimated year-end balance; councilors and the chief debated appropriate use and long-term sustainability.
Director Roy and Chief St. Pierre reviewed the police drug forfeiture account and recent activity, including purchases funded from federal and state forfeiture monies. Director Roy said the city had removed certain items from the general fund into the federal forfeiture fund, and detailed recent large expenditures: camera systems, access control and locker deposits at the new station, firearms and training, and other equipment. He reported that the fund balance at the end of fiscal year 24 in the financials appeared to be about $1,364,000 but that $257,853 of that was already earmarked for the move to the new police facility.
Chief St. Pierre and Director Roy listed recent and pending purchases charged to the fund: a digital forensic workstation, blocker lockers for phone storage, gym equipment replacement, drone night-vision thermal cameras and other specialized equipment. Director Roy said he had added a $127,002.60 item for tasers to the forfeiture requests and warned the council the fund balance would decline if current plans were approved. "I fear that if we continue to use drug forfeiture money for basically everything... we're gonna run out of the money," Director Roy said.
Councilors pressed staff on yearly revenue into the fund. Director Roy gave incoming amounts for recent years and said forfeiture revenues were irregular and had declined since marijuana legalization reduced cash seizures. He said last fiscal year's receipts were roughly $133,490 (since July 2024) and that revenue can be several years delayed from the underlying case. Councilor Hammond noted year-to-year variability and asked about a donation line; staff confirmed the gym equipment donation from Geiger Corporation.
Councilors debated policy: some said they preferred to preserve a balance in the fund because it covers equipment needs during the year; others urged reducing reliance on forfeiture money to avoid supplanting the general fund. Director Roy said there are "very specific criteria" for expenditures from the forfeiture accounts and warned against supplanting general-fund items. No final policy changes were adopted at the meeting.
