Carlisle council approves emergency SRO agreement; tables larger supplemental budget for March review

Carlisle City Council voted Feb. 25 to authorize an emergency agreement placing a School Resource Officer in the Carlisle Local School District and to postpone broader supplemental budget action until council can review funding details.

Police Chief Will Rogers said the school approved the SRO and "they are planning to start him on March 24th." Chief Rogers also told council that the City of Springboro donated a 2020 Ford Explorer (about 54,000 miles), which "saved about $40,000" in vehicle acquisition costs; he added the vehicle still needs equipment to serve as an SRO unit. The council approved Resolution 8-25 by unanimous roll call after suspending the three-reading rule.

The SRO authorization came amid discussion of Ordinance 4-25, a supplemental ordinance proposing multiple appropriations across funds: $40,000 from the General Fund (101); $2,000 CPT Fund (207); $50,000 Police Services (245); $40,000 Water Capital Improvement Fund (425); and $5,000 Stormwater Fund (605). Community Development Director Alaina Geres presented the ordinance and the financial line items. Several council members — including Councilman Jason Faulkner and Councilman Michael Kilpatrick — said they were uncomfortable approving a large, bundled supplemental without the finance director present and asked that items be separated or explained in more detail.

After discussion about timing and the need to encumber vehicle funds for Phoenix (vendor procurement mentioned during the conversation), the council unanimously voted to table Ordinance 4-25 until the March 11 meeting so members can receive additional financial detail and, if desired, split specific items into separate measures. Council members also discussed take-home vehicle policy and noted an interim arrangement where Officer Czarnota can use a take-home vehicle while staffing and equipment needs are finalized.

The SRO agreement approved by resolution is for an initial 15-month period with the expectation it will convert to an annual contract thereafter; Chief Rogers said specific school hours remain to be finalized at a scheduled meeting with district staff. The council's next regular meeting on March 11 will include the tabling ordinance and the third reading of a separate flood-regulation ordinance.

The emergency approval allows the city and school district to move forward with SRO onboarding and training while funding details for related city appropriations are reviewed at the next meeting.