Public Safety Committee recommends 2026 public-safety budget, adds staff and new programs

The Overland Park Public Safety Committee voted unanimously June 11 to recommend the proposed 2026 public safety operating budget and related strategic goals to the Committee of the Whole, forwarding a package that staff said funds new positions, mental-health responses and one CIP change supported by federal grant money.

The recommendation covers a proposed $190.2 million total operating budget across all funds, with $97.8 million—about a 6.5% increase over 2025—earmarked for public safety (police and fire). City staff told the committee that personnel costs drive most of the increase and that public safety represents roughly 53% of the general fund operating budget.

City staff said the general fund’s total revenues are projected at $354,100,000, with sales taxes providing about 46% of that total and property taxes about 35%. The overall city budget the staff presented was listed as approximately $998,000,000 for 2026 planning purposes.

Why it matters: Committee members said the budget supports hiring and retention in departments that provide core public services, funds mental-health response work that aims to reduce criminal-justice involvement, and prepares the city for 2026 events such as World Cup activities.

Key budget changes and programs

- Personnel and recruitment: Staff said the proposed budget adds full-time equivalents (FTEs) including six firefighter positions tied to the planned company addition at Station 45 (projected to begin service in September 2026), a property technician in the police property-control unit and a civilian chief of staff position in the police department. The city estimated firefighter and police personnel services make up about 90% of each department’s operating budget.

- Mental-health and substance-use services: The proposal funds a new substance-abuse case manager position shared between the police department and county partners; staff said that position will be partly funded by the opioid-settlement fund and partly by the special alcohol control fund.

- Shift differential and operational supports: The police department’s 2026 request includes an increase in evening/night shift differential (budgeted at about $190,000) intended to make local compensation more competitive, plus increased funding for the crossing-guard contract and additional technology and operational items.

- CIP and grants: Staff reported a federal grant of $105,000 that replaces city funding for a bomb robot and explosive trailer project (project PE3196). The total project cost remains listed at $400,000.

- Special funds: The opioid-settlement fund is budgeted at roughly $1,700,000 for 2026 (a reported 31% increase from 2025, driven by beginning fund balance). Staff said the city is in approximately year four of a roughly 19-year settlement distribution and that opioid-settlement money is intended for prevention, treatment and mitigation. The special alcohol control fund was presented at about $5,900,000 (a reported 6% increase), with revenues from the liquor-by-the-drink tax and expenditures that include contributions to the Drug and Alcoholism Council and partial funding for school resource officers and probation/court programs.

Staff also described existing intergovernmental service arrangements in the fire budget, citing reimbursements for fire services to Oakwood Park, Marion and Johnson County Fire District No. 2. Staff noted those reimbursements appear on both the revenue and expenditure sides of the budget.

Questions from members

Committee members asked staff to clarify retirement contribution trends tied to state retirement systems and to explain the structure and long-term viability of special funds. Staff said state actuarial decisions and plan membership changes have driven increases in pension contributions and that the city has historically kept a cautious balance in the special-alcohol fund because legislated revenue streams can change.

Vote and next steps

Councilmember Bagheili moved that the Public Safety Committee recommend approval of the proposed 2026 public safety budget and strategic goals with the changes discussed; the motion passed unanimously. The Committee’s recommendation will be considered next by the Committee of the Whole and later by the City Council as part of the citywide budget process.

What remains unresolved

Staff and committee members noted several items for continuing work, including refinement of strategic-goal language related to World Cup safety and a suggested explicit goal tied to construction of the police training facility (the facility’s construction funding is included in 2026 planning). Staff said further details and final budget language will be provided as the budget moves through the city’s approval process.