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Police chief urges caution on House Bill 133, warns municipalities may lose Violent Crime Fund revenue
Summary
New Castle Police Chief Richard McCabe told council that House Bill 133’s presumptive-waiver language could substantially reduce the Violent Crime Fund revenue that helps municipalities pay for officers, body cameras and major-event staffing.
Police Chief Richard McCabe briefed the council on department operations and focused on House Bill 133, which he described as a bill that would create presumptive qualifications for waivers of a $15 assessment that currently funds a Violent Crime Fund used in part for municipal policing support. McCabe said the Violent Crime Fund paid for New Castle’s body-worn camera startup, some equipment replacement and overtime for large events, and that municipalities received a share of the fund based on sworn officer counts.
"To put things in perspective…since 2018, the violent crime fund has given us over $330,000," McCabe said, listing specific uses including body-worn camera startup, taser replacement and a records-management system. He told council advocates estimate the bill could reduce statewide fee collections and that municipalities could see a meaningful share of funding disappear unless state appropriations replace it.
Council members and staff discussed the fiscal-note uncertainty and possible state mitigation; McCabe noted the governor had proposed $6 million in his budget recommendation to offset potential losses but said that was a recommendation rather than a guaranteed line item. Chief McCabe encouraged local officials to engage legislators about the bill’s municipal impacts.
No vote was taken; the briefing was informational and council members asked staff to share supporting documentation so they can contact state representatives.
