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Police and fire chiefs cite staffing gaps and aging equipment as budget priorities
Summary
Police and Fire Chiefs told council they are understaffed (Police down four, Fire down one) and recommended equipment purchases including lease-purchase of vehicles and portable radios; council agreed to add asset forfeiture funds and lease two additional radios.
Public safety leaders emphasized staffing and equipment needs during the May budget sessions. Police Chief Marcus Barrow and Fire Chief Steve Cordell told council the departments have lost personnel and face difficulty competing with larger nearby communities for recruits. The transcript records the Fire Department as short one employee and the Police Department short four employees.
Chief Barrow reported that the police department responds to roughly 30,000 calls a year and that the building’s HVAC required emergency crane work after a compressor failure. The proposed FY20 budget includes lease-purchase of four new police vehicles and $95,000 to outfit them; structured overtime and liability insurance line items also rose.
Chief Cordell described the need to replace aging 800‑series radios that are no longer repairable. The FY20 proposed budget includes $160,000 for the first half of the portable radio replacement through a lease-purchase and the council gave consensus to add two additional radios by lease so departments would have spares on hand. Council discussed phasing in new ballistic plates for vests (plates cost approximately $5,000 each).
Council and the manager discussed retention strategies: potential commitment contracts tying new hires to a period of service, and referral bonuses; staff was asked to research legal and practical implications with the City Attorney. Council also approved adding $20,000 to Asset Forfeiture funds dedicated to police training, travel and equipment.
