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Police and fire outline staffing, training and equipment needs as council moves to introduce 2026 budget
Summary
Police Chief Tim Keenan and fire representatives described staffing levels, rising training and technology costs for policing, and fire apparatus and equipment capital needs; council agreed to prepare the budget introduction next week.
Police Chief Tim Keenan told the council the department currently has 23 officers counted as "effective manpower" with 25 on the books and an ideal staffing level near 27; he noted three upcoming retirements and stressed continued hiring and training needs. "Currently we have 23 officers' effective manpower," Keenan said.
Nut graf: Public safety presentations highlighted cost pressures on operating expenses driven by training, licensing and cybersecurity, and capital requests for replacement vehicles, mobile data terminals and fire apparatus that will be considered in the borough’s 2026 budget introduction.
The police outlined significant increases in training and technology line items, including funding for PowerDMS modules (online accreditation/training), PTC licensing fees for newly hired officers and certified armorer courses. Chief Keenan said training costs and required licensing, along with specialized equipment such as ruggedized mobile data terminals and body‑worn camera systems, are major drivers of the operating budget increase. An IT coordinator reported frequent cyber intrusion attempts and ongoing firewall activity that support the need for sustained technology investment.
The fire department summarized volunteer staffing (about 51 active volunteers), 371 calls in 2025 and modest operational savings (a 6.4% line‑item reduction noted) while requesting continued capital funding to replace apparatus and to procure specialized standpipe/high‑rise packs for new industrial park buildings. Fire presenters said a multiyear replacement and prefunding strategy has allowed cash purchases in prior years but that rising apparatus costs may require higher annual allocations.
Council members discussed next steps and timing. With department presentations complete, the governing body agreed to prepare the budget introduction at next week’s meeting to position the borough for a public hearing in late April and adoption at the second April meeting.
