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Committee advances police and fire salary ordinance; councilors press chief on staffing and funding
Summary
The committee voted unanimously to recommend Ordinance Proposal 9 20 25, fixing salaries for police officers and firefighters for 2026. Discussion focused on authorized staffing levels (68), current payroll counts, recruitment challenges, and funding sources including ARPA, GO bond and general-fund shifts.
The Lawrence City council committee unanimously recommended Ordinance Proposal 9 20 25 — an ordinance fixing salaries of appointed officers and employees of the police department and the fire department for 2026 — forwarding the measure to full council.
Committee members used the police-and-fire salary discussion to press the police chief and controller on staffing levels and the budgetary drivers of a large proposed increase in the police general-fund allocation. The motion to recommend Proposal 9 was made and later recorded as moved by Zach and seconded by Councilor Jobs; the committee vote was 100% in favor.
Police Chief comments and data drove much of the discussion. The chief said the department’s authorized manpower strength is 68 and that the…
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