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Rexburg approves police budget changes to fund SROs, replace body cameras and buy new fingerprint machine
Summary
Council approved budget adjustments to accept a three‑year SRO grant (~$102,000/year), a $70,000 matching grant for body cameras (with approximately $70,000 local match), and spending to replace the department fingerprint machine (~$20,000). Council authorized purchases and minor contingency use.
The Rexburg City Council on Nov. 20 approved a police budget adjustment that accepts federal grant funding to cover part of existing and planned police costs and to replace aging equipment.
CFO Matt Nielsen told the council the police department secured a three‑year grant that will cover about $102,000 per year for one school resource officer’s wages and benefits, in coordination with the school district. That grant is intended to fund the position’s salary for the next three years, not to create a new post, staff said.
Separately, the police received a roughly $70,000 grant to help replace officer body‑worn cameras; the replacement program will cost about $140,000 in total (staff said a matching amount is required), plus about $15,000 for the server that stores footage. The department also needs to replace an aging fingerprint machine (staff estimated about $20,000) that recent failure rendered unusable.
Police staff explained they have used WatchGuard equipment for 12–15 years and the vendor consolidation and parts shortages prompted an accelerated replacement plan. Council discussed funding mechanics: the SRO grant reduces the city payroll obligation and allows staff to reallocate salary savings to help meet the body‑camera match and cover the fingerprint machine with minimal general‑fund contingency use (staff requested $3,000 from contingency).
Council made and seconded a motion to approve the budget adjustment, accept the grants and proceed with procurement of the equipment as described. The motion passed on a unanimous voice vote. Staff said the department will follow procurement rules, apply the grants, and implement replacements and server purchases as funds permit.
The council also discussed future dash‑camera purchases anticipated to be funded through a separate grant application.
