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Council members warn of growing budget pressures, propose alternative budgeting and scrutiny of positions and contracts
Summary
Council members highlighted rising personnel costs, vacancies and contract risks and urged liaisons to prepare alternative department budgets; Chris said built‑in contract step increases could push the police budget toward $193–195 million and warned reserves may run out by 2027 without revenue or cuts.
Council members used the budget committee meeting to press for a more exacting review of staffing, long‑term costs and contracts and to authorize preparation of an alternative budget if the county executive’s proposal exceeds the council’s target.
Budget coordinator Chris Grama Howard warned that automatic pay step increases and bargaining agreements are likely to raise this year’s police budget from about $185,000,000 toward…
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