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West Palm Beach proposes 33 new police positions and $2 million overtime reduction; $4.3M in vehicle costs proposed as one-time spend
Summary
City Administrator Faye Johnson presented a package of public-safety investments for FY26 that includes 33 new police-related positions (27 sworn), expanded training and equipment budgets, a plan to reduce police overtime from $4 million to $2 million, and a request to fund $4.3 million in vehicles from one-time dollars.
City Administrator Faye Johnson told the commission the FY26 proposed budget includes a significant expansion of police staffing and operating resources, including 33 new positions for the police department: 27 sworn officers (described in the presentation as 25 patrol officers and two sergeants) and six civilian professional staff.
Johnson said the proposal would increase the department’s sworn headcount from 308 to 335 if adopted. The FY26 package also includes material and services increases of about $1.0 million for police operations, comprised of roughly $360,000 for training, $350,000 for operational equipment replacement and upgrades, $140,000 for community programs (including Explorer and PAL programs), and $160,000 to backfill investigative services…
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