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Revere police budget steady; grant writer consolidated, body-camera storage drives contracted services increase
Summary
The Revere Police Department told the Ways and Means Subcommittee on June 10 that its FY2026 budget largely mirrors last year’s but includes staffing vacancies the new chief plans to address; the city consolidated grant-writing and expects contracted services to rise for body-camera data storage.
The Revere Police Department told the Ways and Means Subcommittee on June 10 that its fiscal 2026 budget largely mirrors the prior year, while leadership outlined staffing gaps, changes to grant administration and an anticipated increase in contracted services tied to body-camera data storage.
The police chief, who said he has been on the job about a week, told councilors the department is budgeted for additional officers over current staffing and intends to fill vacancies through lateral transfers and civil service hires. “We do have, some vacancies that I intend to fill. ... Right now we're budgeted for 01/2012. We have, 102 on the books right now,” the chief said.
Councilors asked about the grant functions the department previously held. The chief and other staff described consolidation of grant writing and administration into a centralized city function, which led to movement of a grant writer and two behavioral-health grant-funded positions from the police department into the community planning/community development and public health functions. The chief said the city will maintain support to manage existing grants and ensure no reporting lapses while roles are adjusted.
On contracted services, the chief said an increase from about $100,000 to $300,000 in the contracted services line reflects anticipated costs associated with body cameras, specifically data storage: “That that that's in anticipation of body cameras in the city... the data storage and and that stuff is really kinda what drives that, expense budget to speak in the form.”
Councilor McKenna asked whether the police still use auxiliary police. The chief said the auxiliary program had ended because certification under updated state POST (Police Officer Standards and Training) requirements prevented continuation: “No. That is something that with the adoption of post under Massachusetts laws, has unfortunately had to go by the wayside for certification purposes.”
The chief said a new civil service list was established June 1 and that he called for the list on June 2 to begin hiring; a short appeal process for candidates remains before the list is settled.
No formal votes were taken during the presentation. Councilors and staff discussed short-term grant staffing transitions and the city’s intent to centralize proactive grant seeking under a city grant writer.
