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Hot Springs Police seek $221,509.72 STEP grant to fund targeted traffic enforcement
Summary
The Hot Springs Police Department requested authorization to file for the federal/state Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) grant for FY 2026, seeking $221,509.72 to reimburse overtime, personnel and equipment costs; the grant requires no local match.
The Hot Springs Police Department asked the board to authorize filing and acceptance of the Arkansas Selective Traffic Enforcement Program (STEP) grant for fiscal year 2026 with a total budget request of $221,509.72.
Chief, Hot Springs Police Department, presented the program, saying the department has participated in STEP since 1998 and that the grant is administered through the Arkansas Highway Safety Office. "The goal of the project is to decrease the number of traffic related vehicle accidents and fatalities by conducting specific traffic enforcement operations in the City of Hot Springs and Garland County such as DWI, seat belt, distracted driving, and speed enforcement," the chief said.
What the grant covers: the chief said the STEP grant will reimburse overtime expenditures, personnel expenses, fuel and vehicle maintenance tied to enforcement activities, and will also fund enforcement equipment such as radar and lidar units and 70 child safety seats to be distributed to community members in need. "These expenditures require no match from the city," the chief said.
Questions from the board focused on the scope of enforcement. Director Holliday asked whether pedestrian-related enforcement could be funded; the chief said that specific worksheet line items for each enforcement activity appear in the grant application and that pedestrian enforcement had not yet been added to their application but "could be forthcoming."
Status and next steps: staff recommended authorizing filing and acceptance of the grant; no formal vote was recorded during the agenda review. If approved at the formal meeting, the grant would reimburse eligible expenses tied to the stated enforcement activities.
