Police, fire budgets see staffing hikes and higher overtime allowances in proposed 2025–26 plan
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Summary
Budget materials show proposed increases in police and fire appropriations driven by staffing additions (Project 300 and parking staff transfers), overtime and benefit cost increases; Council pressed chiefs on service impacts and hiring timelines.
Glendale staff presented the public safety budgets — police and fire — as the largest components of the general fund in the FY 2025–26 proposal. Police and fire together make up the majority of general fund spending, and proposed changes include new headcount, higher overtime allocations and non‑discretionary cost increases tied to contracts and insurance.
The Police Department’s proposed budget shows a rise from roughly 374–375 total personnel last year to about 407 in the proposed year. That increase reflects two main elements: the Project 300 initiative (a phased add of 23 officers, now shown as 22 in the proposed budget) and the transfer of roughly 10.5 FTEs from the collapsed parking fund. Staff said the police general fund increase is driven by $17 million in salaries and benefits, including roughly $5.8 million tied to Project 300, $3.9 million in overtime and roughly $1.4 million for positions that transferred in from parking.
Officials told council the Police Department is now budgeting more realistic overtime levels compared with prior years when vacant positions were used to offset overtime spending; staff asked for an overtime appropriation that moves the department toward an $8 million target for overtime expenses (up from lower budgeted amounts in recent years). The department also sought funding for the Real Time Intelligence Center (ARTIK), joint air support maintenance and costs for a new helicopter arriving in October 2025.
For the Fire Department, staff proposed targeted capital items (turnout gear and monitor/defibrillator replacements) and a $2.4 million year‑to‑year increase largely attributable to salaries and benefits. The presentation flagged one vacant Fire Prevention Inspector position as proposed for defunding and put into the non‑departmental holding account, drawing council questions because fire prevention inspection waits have been a repeated public complaint. Fire staff said the role has been vacant since July of last year and that they are doing a workload analysis tied to recent Cal Fire mapping changes before decisions on reinstatement.
Council members asked for details about the pace of police hiring (backgrounds and academy slots), the potential for certain public safety positions to be restored if revenues are found, and how take‑home vehicle practices and overtime reduction plans will be monitored. Police staff reported substantial progress on hiring: of the 23‑position phase, roughly half have been filled and others are in recruitment or background checks; dispatch vacancies have declined substantially from historic highs.
