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Bellingham committee approves forwarding of $3.7 million state police grant; councilmember to recuse over DVSA funding
Summary
The Budget & Finance Committee approved moving forward with a $3,703,583 Criminal Justice Training Commission grant for the Bellingham Police Department and an ordinance to add related budget authority; Councilmember Williams said she will recuse from the council vote because $100,000 of the grant would go to the local DVSA program.
The Bellingham Budget & Finance Committee voted in committee to forward a $3,703,583 award from the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission to the full city council and approved an ordinance at committee level to add the necessary expense and FTE authority tied to the grant.
Deputy Chief Ty Elmendorf (Deputy Chief of Police for Bellingham) told the committee the award, made under the local law enforcement grant program created by Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2015, will support hiring and retention, training and several operational initiatives. Elmendorf said the department expects to use the funds to unfreeze three patrol officer positions, fund an additional records position and a warrant officer, retain staff with bonuses, and support training and technology upgrades, among other uses. He described about $688,000 of the award as dedicated to maintaining the Alternative Response Team and noted a $100,000 subrecipient award to domestic violence and sexual assault services (DVSA).
At staff's request, committee members considered ordinance 24937 to recognize the grant revenue and add the associated expense authority and FTE allocations. City finance staff explained the ordinance would add roughly $1,540,715 in expense authority and about $1,490,504 in revenue; staff said the difference represents the city's approximate 25% personnel match for positions enabled by the grant.
Councilmembers questioned how long the grant funding would remain available and whether it would create ongoing operating obligations. Elmendorf and finance staff said the grant is available through June 2028 and that the city is planning longer-term funding options (including regional service planning) to address any operating costs that might continue after the grant period ends.
Councilmember Williams moved to authorize the mayor to enter into the interlocal agreement with the Criminal Justice Training Commission. Williams subsequently stated she serves on the DVSA Board of Directors and said she will recuse herself from the council's vote on the matter because DVSA is a direct subrecipient of $100,000; she did not participate in the committee-level vote. The committee recorded approval to forward the interlocal agreement and budget ordinance to the full council.
Committee members also pressed staff for clarity on how the budget amendment reconciled FTE lines: staff explained the ordinance restores funding to previously frozen positions and adds two additional FTEs to the department's authorized count.
The items will be placed on the council agenda later tonight for final approval by the full council.
