Resident says park funding was shifted to police; commissioners say staff recommends and board decides

At the citizens forum portion of the June 10 Cheltenham Finance Committee meeting, Miss Melton said money previously set aside for parks and recreation — specifically work at John Russell Park — had been reallocated to the police district and asked who had authority to make that change.

"Who gives the authority to reallocate money that one department has determined they need? I call it...robbing Peter to pay Paul," Miss Melton said. She asked whether an ordinance or another rule governs such reallocations and urged more police presence at John Russell Park if an officer could be assigned to make a visible patrol.

Commissioners replied that staff prepare recommendations and that the board of commissioners makes the final decisions on budget allocations. The exchange in the public-comment period did not produce a vote or a directive to reallocate or restore funding; commissioners thanked Miss Melton for raising the concern and said the process would be handled through staff recommendations and the formal budget process.

Miss Melton’s comments were the only public-submitted remark during the forum recorded in the transcript.