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Council hears police budget flat at $16.1M; mayor adds $250,000 jail‑bill contingency to avoid enforcement gaps
Summary
Mayor Farrell presented a largely flat police budget and said the administration added $250,000 to the jail bill line to remove cost concerns as a reason not to enforce city ordinances. Council members pressed for details about vehicle funding, staffing levels and the effect of previously removed municipal charges on jail costs.
Mayor Farrell told the council the police budget is essentially flat for FY2026 and that the administration is budgeting about $16.1 million for police operations. He said the administration does not intend to cut police or fire funding and that the mayor's goal is to be transparent and accurate about what police will actually spend.
The mayor said the FY2026 proposal reflects that the city is still authorized for 108 sworn positions but is not funding all of them; he cited a reduction of roughly $363,000 that reflects the fact some positions remain unfunded. Farrell told the council he wants the police department…
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