Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Grants topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sandpoint police warn paused federal grants could reduce overtime enforcement
Summary
Police Chief said federal grant-funded traffic-enforcement programs are currently paused, potentially reducing overtime-funded enforcement (about $50,000 typically) and forcing the department to reallocate salary savings for summer activities.
The Sandpoint Police Department told council members March 19 that several federally funded traffic-enforcement grants currently are on pause and that the pause may reduce overtime-funded enforcement activities this summer.
Chief Corey (last name redacted in transcript) said the department was notified that state-administered federal grants used to fund overtime for traffic enforcement—aggressive driving, crosswalk enforcement, DUI emphasis and similar activities—are paused because funding is not available at the moment. The department typically applies for about $50,000 in such grant funds, which primarily cover overtime costs for targeted enforcement.
"We normally apply for about $50,000 ... which usually equates for as far overtime of hours that we use to for those activities," the chief said. He said staffing vacancies have produced some salary savings in the department and that he plans to coordinate with the mayor and finance staff to use that saved salary to offset lost grant overtime where possible.
Council members asked directly whether enforcement in crosswalks, stop-sign and speeding-prone areas would be reduced without the grant funds; the chief said the department expects fewer specialized enforcement days and that "we will see a decrease on some of those days because of staffing levels, because of lack of funding." He added the department will attempt to prioritize critical areas.
No formal council action was taken; staff said they will work on internal budget reallocations to cover high-priority enforcement and summer activities.
