Covington council keeps budget COLA, approves three decision cards and delays vote on proposed police hire

The Covington City Council on Nov. 12 left the proposed cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) assumptions in the FY 2026 forecast intact and agreed by consensus to include three decision cards in the proposed budget, while deferring a decision on adding a police officer until the council obtains additional information about revenue and offsets.

Casey, finance staff, walked council through the updated forecast and the decision cards included in that forecast: a part-time community care coordinator (10 hours/week) funded with opioid and HB1590 grant funds, a $3,000 ongoing ECSJ-administered event grant, and a 10% increase in human-services funding (roughly $13,650). "All of those are taken into account in the updated forecast that I sent out," Casey said.

Councilmembers debated whether to hire a police officer immediately at an estimated cost of about $300,000 (which contributes to a forecasted $2.7 million deficit by 2031 if all decision cards are adopted). Proponents cited public safety and school resource concerns; opponents urged waiting for potential state sales-tax funding tied to House Bill 2015 and revenue from the Lake Pointe development to improve the long-term fiscal picture. "If not now, when? This is going to be hanging over our head every single year," Councilmember Beth said in favor of earlier hiring. Others favored waiting for clarity and agreed staff should prepare cuts and financial scenarios for the next meeting and the January summit.

The council gave direction to include the three lower-cost decision cards in the budget and to continue deliberations about the police position, bringing back budget cut scenarios (Councilmember Beth had circulated possible cuts totaling about $108,000 plus overtime savings) for the next meeting in two weeks and discussion at the January council summit.