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Niceville council approves budget amendment to fund K‑9 replacement and police vehicles
Summary
Council approved a budget amendment to accept grants and allocate funds including a $15,000 grant toward a replacement police K‑9 and up to $210,000 for police vehicle purchases funded by school speed‑camera revenues, with staff clarifying vehicle purchase conditions and ongoing fundraising.
Council considered Ordinance 26‑03‑01, an amendment to the city’s fiscal year budget that includes multiple additions presented by staff. The ordinance packages two principal items that drew council discussion: a $15,000 grant to support fundraising for a replacement police K‑9 and a request of up to about $210,000 to purchase up to three police vehicles. City staff and the police chief explained that the vehicle funding is proposed to come from the city’s unencumbered school speed‑camera fund balance and that purchases would follow state contract pricing.
Council members pressed staff on whether speed‑camera revenues could be used for a K‑9 and were told that the school speed camera fund’s allowable uses permit police equipment purchases, including K‑9 related costs. The police chief reviewed K‑9 cost estimates (roughly $100,000 total for a fully equipped and trained K‑9 unit: about $20,000 for the dog plus training, vehicle and equipment) and described matching commitments from a private donor (pledged to match up to $10,000) and outstanding grant applications.
The council voted to approve the ordinance on the motion and second; roll call indicated unanimous approval.
