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Board approves Stone Garden overtime grant and corresponding budget amendment
Summary
The board voted to accept a Stone Garden federal grant to pay overtime for RPD officers and approved an associated budget amendment for fiscal-year expenses and revenues; staff said the amounts were modest and the police chief manages grant administration.
The Laredo International Airport Board voted to accept a Stone Garden grant that pays overtime for law-enforcement officers and to amend the airport budget for the corresponding revenue and expense entries.
Staff described the Stone Garden funding as a federal border-security grant that pays overtime for officers performing border-related duties at transportation nodes. A staff member said the grant award is “a low lesser amount” and that the airport’s portion is about $11,000–$12,000 for the fiscal period under discussion; at one point staff used figures near $11,750 in the meeting. The board approved the acceptance of the grant and then approved the related appropriation amendment for revenues and expenses. Both votes were taken by motion, second and voice vote; the chair announced the motions passed.
Staff noted the police chief handles application and administration of these grants and that the funds are restricted to overtime for border-related operations. Staff also said past grant cycles have experienced administrative issues that reduced the award level this year, but there remains potential to apply for additional federal funds if local needs and officer counts justify it.
Clarifying details recorded in discussion: staff confirmed the award funds overtime for officers on border-security tasks, applies to the fiscal year (ends Sept. 30), and that grant administration is handled by the chief; the meeting included a reference to the Stone Garden program and related Liberty Shield terminology.
Why it matters: federal overtime grants support airport security operations and can supplement local policing capacity without drawing on general fund dollars.
Next steps: the police chief will continue to manage the grant and pursue additional funding opportunities as appropriate. The board took formal action to accept the grant and adjust the budget during the meeting.
