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POST to absorb nearly $11.12 million reduction in 2025–26; six vacant positions flagged
Summary
POST staff told the commission that a May budget revision cuts about 9.94% of POST’s 2025–26 budget — roughly $11.123 million — and that the agency plans to meet the target with six vacant positions and operational savings while protecting training delivery.
The Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training was told that a May revision to the governor’s budget requires a 9.94% reduction to POST’s 2025–26 appropriation — approximately $11.123 million — and that staff are planning operational savings and six position reductions to meet the mandate without interrupting training delivery.
Assistant Executive Director Tom Osborne described the impact as a combined savings plan: about $1.789 million from six vacant positions and roughly $9.334 million from operational reductions. He told commissioners the May revision carried the reductions and incorporated previously proposed salary‑savings and operational‑savings proposals submitted by POST.
Executive Director Manny Alvarez told the commission staff do not intend to reduce delivery of core training for peace officers and dispatchers or to reduce local reimbursement rates; POST plans to prioritize classroom fill rates and contract management to limit operational impacts. POST also said some savings stem from lower‑than‑anticipated outside‑counsel and Office of Administrative Hearings costs related to SB 2 work.
Osborne said the agency’s staffing target is 263 full‑time positions; as of the meeting POST had 215 filled positions and was planning to grow toward 231 in the next year. He said POST will continue recruiting but may realign duties and delay new authorizations; staff warned that the cuts would likely be memorialized on July 1 in the upcoming fiscal cycle.
Commissioners asked when the state will confirm final figures: POST replied the governor’s budget is due in January and the May revision was the latest update; the department expects to have more detail by the September commission meeting once the state’s budget is finalized.
Why it matters: An almost $11.12 million reduction will force POST to prioritize workloads, delay some hires and adjust operations during a period when the agency is also implementing SB 2, rolling out training reforms, and managing large decertification and case backlogs. POST said it will seek to shield training delivery from cuts but some bureau workloads, particularly in the accountability division, could be affected by staffing shortages.
