Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety And Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Police, public‑works budgets stress lean staffing, equipment contracts and deferred projects
Summary
Chief Morrison and Public Works Director Raymond told the council their departments are lean; the police budget includes a $62,000 Axon contract and higher overtime tracking while public works shows a lower general‑fund ask but placeholders for a new building and a large HUR allocation and noted the Crestlawn reimbursement timing is uncertain.
Chief Morrison outlined the police department’s FY26 budget, telling the council the force is 'very lean' and that overtime is being broken into categories—WMATA‑reimbursed overtime (with a 10% administrative fee that returns to the town), operational necessity and court overtime—to better track spending. He noted the department budget includes a $62,000 ongoing Axon contract that covers body and in‑car cameras and related equipment and runs through 2029.
Mister Galloway and the chief said the town negotiated vehicle upfits and restorations instead of buying new cruisers to reduce capital costs; the council was told about five vehicles refurbished at about $25,000 total and one additional unit estimated at $5,000 to return to service. Chief Morrison said equipment calibrations and scheduled maintenance timing account for odd current line‑item expenditures.
Director Raymond presented Public Works figures, saying general‑fund amounts come in under last year and that placeholders were added for a new Public Works building and facilities ($225,000). He noted an increased HUR (highway user revenue) figure this year, rolled‑forward bond or federal earmark funds associated with the Crestlawn project, and a planned Boyd Park playground pre‑construction meeting in early June. Raymond said sanitation costs reflect a tipping‑fee increase and that the town is exploring a food‑waste composting pilot with a neighboring jurisdiction.
