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Council hears push to keep police computer upgrades in budget; CFO cautions on capital rules
Summary
Police chief warned against cutting funding for computer upgrades and maintenance; CFO said such upgrades "could not be placed in capital ordinances due to their low 'period of usefulness'" and recommended budgeting them now rather than relying on year‑end funds.
Pitman police technology and maintenance needs were raised during the Sept. 9 work session, with Police Chief McAteer urging council to preserve funding for planned computer upgrades and other equipment maintenance.
CFO Colette Bachich advised against moving those costs into a capital ordinance, saying "computer upgrades could not be placed in capital ordinances due to their low 'period of usefulness', and she recommended including these upgrade costs in the budget rather than trying to come up with these costs from whatever money was leftover at the end of the year." Councilwoman Milward had proposed cuts to technology and other police line items; the chief said cutting now could increase maintenance burdens in coming years.
Council did not take formal action on police expenditures at the session but discussed options for how to account for upgrades within the operating budget or other funding sources.
