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Police brief: staffing close to target, jail contract swap lowers costs, drug task‑force office renovation sought
Summary
Police staff reported 74 total department employees with vacancies (three officers, four dispatchers), a projected 2.9% budget increase driven by overtime and capital vehicle purchases, and a swap with the sheriff that reduced jail costs by about $360,000; they requested roughly $190,000 for drug task‑force office renovations.
An agency official (Speaker 12) delivered a ten‑minute overview of the police and dispatch budget. He said the department has 74 employees (51 authorized officers, nine civilian support staff and 14 dispatchers), with three officer vacancies and four dispatcher vacancies, and projected a 2.9% budget increase driven by overtime, added holidays in the union contract and capital vehicle purchases. "We're asking to go up in that... we're seeing an increase both in the community events that we are supporting on the safety and security side," he said.
Speaker 12 explained the city negotiated a swap with the county sheriff that reduced jail and prisoner expenses by roughly $360,000 a year; staff now plan to request about $190,000 to finish renovations at a newly purchased building for the drug task force that currently houses detectives in a makeshift garage bay. Commissioners asked about bid timelines, staffing challenges in dispatch and how asset‑forfeiture rules limit use of funds for brick‑and‑mortar work. No final appropriation was approved at this meeting; staff said they will return with procurement steps and funding options.
