Councilors press department on CIT and Project SEED roles, funding and response activity

Council members pressed county staff May 22 for details about Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) and Project SEED staffing, budgets and recent responses as part of the Community Services and Public Safety budget reviews.

Councilman Street and others voiced frustration that the intervention programs often arrive after incidents, asking for clearer evidence of prevention and crisis‑response activity. “I don't see prevention. And coming in after all hell breaks loose doesn't do any good,” Street said during the Community Services presentation.

Carrie Casey, general manager of Community Services, described the CIT program budgeted at $345,185 for FY26 and said it includes eight staff — two full‑time and six part‑time positions — and that the program’s activities span prevention, intervention and crisis response. She said the department projects more than 8,000 participants in outreach initiatives this fiscal year and will provide a list of schools where the intervention team has worked on request.

Project SEED’s budget is captured under Public Safety’s Division of Administration. Carla Jones, public safety finance officer, told the council that Project SEED’s FY26 budget is $467,770.67, which includes three full‑time positions and line items for salary, benefits, community events, travel and materials.

Council members questioned operational alignment. Councilman Toole and others suggested Project SEED and the intervention team may be organizationally misplaced and might better align under Public Safety for closer operational coordination with law enforcement and recruitment work. Toole asked the county to consider whether positions funded with ARPA would be better assigned in a different reporting line to reflect day‑to‑day activities.

Casey and chief of police Jamie Leonard (presenting later) said the groups collaborate and cited joint outreach events. “We had a very successful bicycle repair event at Edgemoor Gardens on April 15,” Casey said; she added 23 youth and 11 adults participated with both Project SEED and the CIT team. Leonard added that Project SEED reports to the director of public safety.

Council members asked for more data and accountability: which incidents the teams responded to, lists of schools where they have worked, and quantified results on prevention or deterrence. Councilman Street said he intends to propose budget amendments if necessary to secure changes. No reallocation or policy decision was made on May 22; councilmembers directed staff to provide more operational detail and documentation for follow‑up.