Lawrence police present roughly $18 million FY26 budget; new chief questions need for deputy chief slot

The Lawrence Police Department presented its proposed fiscal-year 2026 operating budget to the Lawrence City Council on May 21, with Director Rosa Sheppard saying the department filed a balanced request of about $18.0 million and that the total increase over last year is $702,413, or roughly 3.84 percent.

Why it matters: The presentation highlighted several personnel-driven costs — education pay differentials enacted under the “Quinn bill,” individual salary adjustments for senior staff, and funding tied to vacancies and overtime — and prompted council members to press the department’s new chief for more detail before the council votes on the overall city budget.

Rosa Sheppard, a department presenter, gave line-item changes in police administration. She said the budget includes a $175,000 increase tied to a deputy chief line, a raise for the director of police and community relations from $95,365 to $99,500 (a $4,135 increase), and a raise for the director of support services from $90,346 to $94,600 (a $4,254 increase). Sheppard also said the confidential secretary line reflects a…