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Colmar Manor council adopts FY2026 budget after debate over police position
Summary
The Colmar Manor Mayor and Council adopted Ordinance O-07-2025, the FY2025–26 budget and levy, after debate over whether to remove a vacant police position; council members and the police chief argued to retain the post. The ordinance includes a $30,000 annexation study designation.
The Colmar Manor Mayor and Council voted to adopt Ordinance O-07-2025, the town's FY2025'26 annual budget and levy. The ordinance, introduced earlier at a work session, includes a $30,000 designation for an annexation study and funding for ongoing town operations.
Council members discussed whether to delete a police officer position left vacant when Officer Chavez departed. Council member Pages raised the possibility of removing the position to save costs; Chief Stone, the town police chief (Chief Stone), warned that the department is small and part time and said removing a position "it's going to take an officer off the street." Chief Stone noted that staff also spend time reviewing automated citations from newly installed speed and stop-sign camera systems and that the workload supports keeping the position.
Town staff summarized the draft budget and said the only change since the budget hearing had been the $30,000 annexation study designation. After questions and public comment, Council member Melinda Mendoza moved to adopt the ordinance; the motion was seconded. The council conducted a roll-call vote and approved the budget.
The mayor said the council had worked through numerous meetings and hearings in advance and thanked residents and staff for their involvement. The adoption authorizes the town to proceed with the budgeted programs and the annexation study referenced in the ordinance.
