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Police clerk warns year-end purchases could prompt cuts to 2026 budget
Summary
Police Clerk Jennifer Caryer told the council that year-end purchases made to cover unplanned expenses were charged to 2025 funds and said some items budgeted for 2026 may be removed; Council member Eric Bassett asked for a list before any formal adjustment.
Jennifer Caryer, the Hicksville Police Department clerk, told the council Dec. 15 that the department often waits until year-end to spend leftover funds in case of unexpected expenses and described the department as having to "use it or lose it." She said purchases made before the fiscal deadline were paid from 2025 funds but that the items, although budgeted for 2026, now face being removed from next year’s budget.
"We are a department that has to ‘use it or lose it,’" Caryer said on the record, adding that officers appreciated receiving additional uniform pants. Caryer also questioned why certain appropriations and the first seven items in the appropriations list are controlled by the Fiscal Officer and said she did not know why wages were overspent.
Council member Eric Bassett said the Finance Committee reviews budgets as submitted and said he supports reducing the 2026 budget by items already purchased and paid for in 2025, but he requested a written list of those items before any formal action. Council member Toni Egly said she had been notified about some purchases late in the day and that "that was not enough time to consider anything." The council did not record a final decision on adjustments at the meeting.
The Finance Committee had met Dec. 11 and committee minutes were included in the meeting packet; Bassett asked that committee or staff provide the requested list to Council prior to any official budget amendment.
