Police chief presents FY2026 budget request and capital needs; new station move planned for June

At the Feb. 19 Police Commission meeting the chief presented refined FY2026 budget figures forwarded from the Board of Selectmen and discussed operating, capital and facility items the department will present to the Board of Finance and Town Council.

The department's operating budget request is "a little over $8,000,000," which the chief said represents a 4.93% increase from the prior year. The increase reflects insertion of contractual pay raises into salary lines, the restoration of a full-time facilities/maintenance position (salary noted in discussion at about $88,000), and higher projected service contracts and utility costs at the new building.

The animal-control budget was presented at $95,179, a 5.29% reduction from the previous year after housekeeping cuts to supplies and postage, according to the chief.

Capital requests totaled $359,100. The department requested three vehicles in FY2026 and consolidated equipment and vehicle changeover costs into a single bonded line at the CFO's request. The capital list included duty firearm replacement (roughly $60,000 to complete a multi-year replacement), bulletproof-vest replacements (manufacturer recommends a five-year cycle; the department said some grant reimbursement is typically available), radio and in-car computer replacements, taser replacements and a small number of other end-of-life equipment items.

The chief said the department moved $65,000 in training dollars to a special project account at the Board of Selectmen's and finance department's request; the funds will cover one-time firearms training tied to weapon replacements. Service contracts previously listed in capital (for example, body-camera annual service) were moved to operating to reflect ongoing annual costs.

Construction and facility notes: the chief reported that the department's new station construction is on schedule and within budget, with a planned 911 and phone-system cutover slated for June 3 and an anticipated move-in around June. Commissioners toured the site and provided minor punch-list feedback; the department said staff and evidence areas have been consulting to finalize layout and operations.

Commissioners discussed vehicle replacement cycles (frontline vehicles typically cycled off at about 80,000 miles and average 15,000–20,000 miles per year), capital-versus-operating treatment for equipment, and bonding terms; finance staff and the CFO were asked to clarify expected amortization length for vehicle bonds. The chief said the department is working to stay on a replacement cycle after pandemic-related supply delays had previously created a backlog.

No formal votes were taken on the FY2026 request at this meeting; the department will present these refined numbers to the Board of Finance next week and to the Town Council later in March.