The Junction City Council approved a one-time allocation of $50,000 on July 8 to help fund a detective position for the police department and amended a separate resolution to establish a police services technician as a full-time role.

Councilor Weisberg moved to allocate $50,000 from the projects-to-be-determined line and the state revenue-sharing fund to “one-time funding for a detective position in the police department.” The motion was seconded and the measure passed.

Chief Whitehill described operational needs driving both actions, saying the department has lost dispatch positions and needs a position to handle reception, records and front-counter duties. Whitehill told the council, “My opinion is that this is gonna be a full time position at some point.” After extended council discussion about whether to begin part time and upgrade later, the council voted to approve the resolution with Exhibit A amended to list the position type as full time. Council members repeatedly said they expect staff and the chief to return with a follow-up study on sustainable funding and any necessary cuts elsewhere to balance ongoing payroll costs.

Councilors emphasized the difference between interim solutions and permanent budgeting. Several members noted state revenue sharing replenishes annually and that the council could revisit ongoing funding next year. The council asked the administration and the police chief to identify where long-term funding would come from if the full-time classification is continued.

Those decisions were made by motion on the council floor and are recorded as council directions and budget allocations; staff will return with the financial analysis and recruitment timeline.

The actions do not authorize multi‑year ongoing appropriation beyond the single-year $50,000 allocation; any recurring budget changes will require future council approval.