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Council asks city manager to identify $600,000 to keep school resource officers in elementary schools
Summary
Council reached consensus to ask City Manager Steven Carter to identify funding—about $600,000—to maintain school resource officers in Portsmouth elementary schools after state funding ended, and directed staff to report back.
Councilman Hugo raised a letter from the state indicating that funding for school resource officers (SROs) in elementary schools would not continue and asked the council for consensus to have the city manager identify $600,000 to fund the positions through the sheriff's office.
Mayor and councilmembers signaled consensus for the request and Vice Mayor Moody acknowledged the proposal. City Manager Steven Carter confirmed staff would look into options and return to council with recommended funding sources. The request was made as a council consensus item rather than a formal motion. Councilmembers said the issue is urgent because state funding has "dried up" and SRO coverage affects the coming school year.
