Budget committee approves $993,014.95 expenditure list; commissioner asks about sheriff’s drone purchase

The Butte City Budget and Finance Committee approved the expenditure list for May 27, 2026, totaling $993,014.95.

Commissioner O'Leary asked one question about claim number 9397 on page 15, identified in the ledger as a Sheriff's Department purchase of a drone. "Uh only one question this evening, and it ha- it's claim number 9397 on page 15. Uh it's a Sheriff Department's uh purchase of a drone. Just wondering what um if if it there's any information on the on the uh claim uh what the drone is planned to be used for?" O'Leary said.

A staff member responded with brief contractual/discount language but did not provide a clear explanation of the drone's intended operational use. The staff response included: "Oh, is it a discount? Yeah. Okay. So, it's essentially you use it as a as a discount. Okay. contract, yeah." The transcript does not record further clarification about the drone's capabilities, intended functions, or operational policy governing its use.

A committee member moved that the committee review and approve the finance and budget as of Wednesday, May 27th, 2026, in the amount of $993,014.95; the motion was seconded and the chair called the question. The chair stated, "Motion passes." The transcript does not include a roll-call vote or an itemized vote tally.

Why this matters: purchases of aircraft or remotely piloted systems by law enforcement raise questions about oversight, usage policy, and privacy; the record here shows the purchase was listed and questioned but the meeting transcript does not record a substantive operational justification or policy discussion.

The committee did not record additional public discussion or a formal follow-up directive on the drone question during the meeting; no subsequent meeting date or staff follow-up task is listed in the transcript.

The meeting adjourned after the committee reviewed a set of budget transfers and line-item adjustments.