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Council targets police staffing increases as a priority in FY2027 budget
Summary
Councilors highlighted planned additions to policing staff and equipment in the FY2027 budget, citing a contract with Ada County sheriff and a recently instituted Star police impact fee to help pay for capital needs.
Councilors emphasized police staffing and equipment as a central focus when approving the FY2027 budget Tuesday.
Mayor Chadwick told the council the city's contract with the Ada County sheriff will cost about $5.5 million next year and that the budget includes funds to add two patrol deputies, a juvenile detective for Independence Elementary School, an ICAC detective and a detective sergeant. "We're going to be adding 2 patrol deputies with that 1 juvenile detective for Independence Elementary School, 1 ICAC detective... and then we're adding a detective sergeant," the mayor said.
Council members said the additions will raise the city's ratio to about 1.14 officers per 1,000 residents, slightly above the city's stated target of one officer per 1,000. Councilman Nielsen framed policing as a core government responsibility and said constraints in state levy law force cities to look for other revenue sources. "Your legislature has shot itself in the foot... we can't fund the basic things that cities are supposed to fund with the amount of tax revenue that by law we're allowed to bring in," Nielsen said.
To help fund police capital, council members noted a new Star police impact fee adopted in April; the mayor said the fee will be used for items such as police cars. Councilors signaled support for the staffing additions when they voted to adopt the budget.
