Council members heard extended discussion of public-safety staffing during the budget review. Police Chief Matt Thomas said the department had to make cuts but planned to preserve the cadet program at eight cadets in 2026 (reduced from a historical target of 12) to maintain a hiring pipeline and reduce longer-term training costs. Thomas said the department would monitor impacts closely and collect data on operational effects as the year progresses.

Council members expressed concern about sustaining reduced staffing levels. Aldermen emphasized the cadet program’s role in recruitment and the value of civilianized positions to keep sworn officers on the street. Chief Thomas said maintaining the cadet program was a high priority and framed it as a cost-effective way to preserve an entry pipeline for future sworn hires.

On the fire side, Deputy Chief Kevin Nicholl briefed the council on attrition-driven staffing reductions and the possibility of temporary 'brownouts'—short-term removals of company resources—if vacancies continue. Fire staff said no permanent removals had been decided and pledged to provide historical call-volume and response-time data, as well as modeling of the potential effects on ISO ratings and insurance impacts. Council members asked for a more detailed impact analysis so they could weigh operations against budget constraints.

Both departments characterized the cuts as short-term measures tied to attrition, not preferred long-term strategies. City leaders said they would continue to track overtime, response times and staffing levels and revisit restoration of positions if revenues or other conditions allow.