Council reviews drug enforcement fund, cautions on variable forfeiture revenues

Director Roy and Chief Conley briefed the council on the city’s drug enforcement fund, a non‑tax fund supported in part by asset forfeiture revenues.

Director Roy said the FY26 budget shows an overall decrease of about $80,005.63 for drug enforcement. He called the fund a non‑tax resource that must be used for related drug remediation and noted the city is budgeting conservatively because forfeiture revenues fluctuate and can take months or years to be distributed. Director Roy reported an expected fiscal‑year‑end fund balance of $959,004.89 and, after planned spending and budgeted items, an available balance of roughly $502,294 if the proposed budget passes.

Chief Conley provided examples of recent forfeiture‑fund expenditures: new pistols costing about $86,000, the replacement of half the tasers (Taser 7 models) for roughly $126,890 and equipment tied to cruiser changeovers at about $47,000. Councilors asked for clarification about which past expenditures explain year‑to‑date balances and were reminded that some forfeiture receipts come from regional task forces and may be delayed by court processes.

Councilors expressed concern about relying on forfeiture proceeds in a constrained fiscal year and urged conservative budgeting. Director Roy and Chief Conley said the city will continue to present conservative revenue estimates because of the unpredictability of future forfeiture receipts.

Ending: Councilors asked staff to document recent forfeiture expenditures and to continue conservative assumptions for forfeiture revenue in budget materials.