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Tuscaloosa mayor backs new executive director of public safety; council approves cost‑neutral FY26 budget amendment
Summary
Mayor Maddox proposed creating an executive director of public safety and the council approved a budget amendment that funds the position through ambulance franchise revenue and eliminating two vacant police positions; overtime for the post is capped at $10,000 for FY26 and pension conversion rules affect internal applicants.
Mayor Maddox proposed creating an executive director of public safety and asked the council to approve a cost‑neutral FY26 budget amendment to fund the position.
"A hundred and 30 days ago, I notified the city council in writing that my goal was to create an executive director of public safety," Mayor Maddox said, framing the position as a way to improve the city's response to fires, medical calls and large‑scale emergencies.
Miss Standridge outlined the funding plan: use ambulance franchise revenue to fund an EMS prevention coordinator ($83,791), eliminate two long‑vacant Tuscaloosa Police Department positions (an auxiliary officer at about $60,001.65 and a patrol officer at about $115,000) and reduce overtime estimates from $30,000 to $10,000 for the current year. That package leaves an estimated $23,315 in salary savings that the council may reassign or keep in the general fund.
Council members asked how the proposal would affect hiring and benefits. Miss Herbert said the department currently has about 22 vacancies and five officers in the hiring pipeline. Mayor Maddox and staff warned that if a local bill to exempt the position from overtime eligibility does not pass, the city would continue to pay overtime and would need a future budget revision to cover any shortfall.
Legal and pension staff explained a key trade‑off for internal applicants: if the city removes sworn status for the position, employees could lose the ability to convert police and fire pension years to RSA retirement credit. "If you remove it today and we hired somebody, they would start with day‑one credit; they would have to either retire under the police and fire pension or cash out," a legal advisor said.
After discussion, the council moved, seconded and approved the budget amendment and compensation assignment by voice vote.
The council directed staff to return with any follow‑up changes needed depending on timing of hires and the state legislative action that would be required to change the position's overtime status.
