Portsmouth Police Commission advances revised FY27 police budget after public questioning

The Portsmouth Police Commission on Feb. 18 moved a revised FY27 police budget of $16,432,025 to the next stage of the city budget process after a public hearing at which residents asked detailed questions about several line items.

Commission leadership said the original budget proposal presented Feb. 11 was $16,452,953 (about a 9.9% increase over the prior year). After additional vendor information reduced projected maintenance costs by $20,928, the department presented a revised total of $16,432,025 (a 9.15% increase over FY26). A commissioner made a motion to advance the revised budget and the motion passed by voice vote.

During the public‑comment portion, resident Petra reviewed department actuals and variances and asked for clarifications on multiple lines. Petra asked about the Cooper standards fitness stipend (account 018030), noting expenditures of $5,000 in 2025 and $3,000 in 2024 and asking why the budgeted amount was being raised to roughly $13,700; staff described the line as a contractually negotiated stipend paid to ranking officers who pass an annual physical‑fitness test.

Petra also pressed staff on the distinction between “special detail” and outside detail revenue, and on why some revenue tied to services to other communities is credited to the general fund rather than appearing as departmental revenue. Department staff said “special detail” refers to assignments outside patrol (detectives, K‑9, SROs and other specialized roles) and that some outside detail revenue is processed through city accounting practices rather than as a discrete budget revenue line.

Other questions covered professional services (a 40% increase tied to a wellness program the department piloted and is now funding annually), copier lease and printing‑supply increases, clothing allowances and equipment outfitting costs (staff said a full outfit for a new officer can be about $4,000 and that ballistic vests themselves are budgeted under equipment with partial reimbursement), and the interaction between overtime and vacant positions (staff explained vacancies and promotions, and the different overtime dynamics in patrol versus dispatch, drive year‑to‑year variance).

Finance staff told the commission they will prepare the budget narrative for inclusion in the city budget book and that the department will return grant credits where appropriate. After public comment and discussion the commission closed the hearing on the FY27 budget and continued with its agenda.

Next steps: with the commission’s motion passed, the revised police budget will proceed through the city budget process; the commission did not set a further public vote at the meeting.