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Residents press police cruiser funding as department says detail fund falls short
Summary
Police Chief Hebert told the Selectboard the department’s detail fund holds about $61,000 but a replacement cruiser is expected to cost $75,000; the board discussed using part of the detail fund plus taxation but made no decision.
Chief Hebert presented a largely unchanged police budget and told the Selectboard that the department’s vehicle-replacement fund (detail fund) currently holds about $61,000 while a replacement cruiser is expected to cost about $75,000, leaving a shortfall.
Resident Brendan Denehy asked whether a cruiser purchase originally planned from detail funds would be covered in 2026; Hebert said the fund is insufficient and that buying a cruiser from the fund would deplete it. Selectboard Chair Eddie Arnold asked whether part of the cost could be covered by the detail fund and the remainder raised through taxation; Hebert said using about $20,000 from the detail fund could help outfit a new cruiser but would not fully cover purchase costs. The board did not adopt a funding decision during the Jan. 12 hearing.
The exchange left the funding source unresolved; if the board wishes to draw from the detail fund it must weigh impacts on remaining detail balances and on future equipment replacements.
The Selectboard will revisit cruiser funding as part of final budget decisions ahead of Town Meeting.
