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Police, fire budgets and millage draw scrutiny as council presses for clearer tracking
Summary
Council questioned how the newly approved police-and-fire millage will be allocated as staff presented police staffing levels, Flock/drone use details and the fire department’s capital needs; police chief said drones and Flock are used for exigent or investigative purposes.
The council’s budget review included an extended exchange on how new millage revenue for police and fire is being allocated and what it will fund.
Police Chief (first on the agenda) told the council the department is authorized for 84 officers and currently staffs 80, with two new officers to be sworn in next month. He outlined modest budget changes driven by contractual salary and benefit increases, and listed capital requests including drone replacement, new car radios to meet an encryption mandate, replacement AEDs, a retiring canine, and new vehicles. The chief said some large expenses will be paid from the drug-forfeiture fund and that the department regularly pursues federal and state grants.
Council members asked specifically how the roughly $1.39 million generated by the recent millage gets routed. One council member noted last year’s wage increases and asked why the millage didn’t show an obvious line‑item or reserve ensuring the money would fund police and fire beyond standard salary growth. Administration said the millage covers a share of wages (the administration estimated about 60–63% of police salary costs) and that some of the revenue is being used to balance other obligations in the budget; council requested a clear accounting option, such as a dedicated reserve or labeled line items, to demonstrate the millage’s application.
Privacy and policy concerns about technology also drew attention. Council members asked whether drone and Flock camera systems could become tools for broad surveillance; the chief said the city’s drones are launched only for exigent circumstances (missing or fleeing persons, felony investigations) and that Flock data aided detectives in 79 cases during the first quarter, identified suspects or vehicles in 25 instances, and led to six arrests.
Fire-department budget discussion ran in parallel. Fire leadership reported near-full staffing with one vacancy to be filled and noted ambulance and staff-vehicle replacements, plus a recently arrived fire truck awaiting inspection. The fire representative also said contract negotiations and associated retroactive pay will be calculated into the current fiscal year if settled before June 30, potentially impacting this year’s budget.
