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Chief says police fleet in 'dire straits,' urges steady vehicle-replacement loan plan
Summary
Chief Parker told the council the police budget shows a $545,000 increase but that $260,000 is debt proceeds for vehicles (a cash wash); he warned of staffing shortages (five vacancies) and ongoing RMS/CAD and retirement cost pressures that leave only about $65,000 in locally controllable budget increases.
Chief Parker told the Black Mountain Town Council the police budget shows a $545,000 increase on paper but that much of it is debt proceeds for vehicle purchases that do not trigger cash payments until the next fiscal year. "If you take that 545, the vehicles that we're asking for which is 260,000 — even though it shows in that budget, we would not be paying for that," Parker said, explaining the town borrows for three to four vehicles on a four‑year rotation so payments smooth out.
The chief said the department is short staffed and running with limited reserve vehicles. "We're in dire hardship with the vehicle fleet," he said, noting donated spare vehicles are failing and at least one has a failing transmission. Parker reported five vacancies and said he expects two of those to be filled within weeks; full staffing was described as 28 positions (27 sworn officers plus one administrator).
Parker walked the council through other drivers of the budget increase. He said a $93,000 rise in law‑enforcement retirement and separation costs and an insurance increase are state‑driven items the town cannot control. The new RMS/CAD system will require its first payment this year; Parker cited a figure of roughly $127,000 for that line. After subtracting debt proceeds, state retirement/insurance and the RMS/CAD first payment, Parker said the portion of the increase locally controllable is about $65,000, which covers fuel, software and consumables.
Council members pressed for crime data tied to staffing reductions; Parker said crime in property and persons categories has risen since January when patrol staffing declined, and he committed to supplying figures requested by council members. He also noted training obligations: the department must qualify firearms and SWAT certifications on a regular schedule and is "begging and borrowing monthly" to pay those training costs while FEMA and insurance processes remain unresolved for some capital repairs.
The council did not take a formal vote during the discussion; staff and the chief were asked to provide the vacancy and crime‑trend figures at the next session. The town will consider the police request as part of broader budget tradeoffs scheduled for the next meeting.
