Kearney budget leaves $1.3M of requested positions and $3.6M of non‑personnel items unfunded

Sheila told aldermen the administration could not fund several personnel requests totaling about $1.3 million, including three school resource officers, a dedicated community policing officer, a police records clerk, a deputy court clerk and an additional full‑time parks maintenance position. “We weren't able to find $1.3 million of positions that were requested,” she said, noting those figures represent salary plus benefits for a full‑time hire and that staff prioritized some vacancies and operational needs over new hires.

Beyond personnel, the administration cataloged roughly $3.6 million in unfulfilled non‑personnel requests across the general, park, transportation, water and sewer funds (including capital and program items) and asked the council to prioritize unmet needs. Sheila emphasized the city must balance competing demands against limited revenues and that multi‑year funding strategies and grant pursuit will be important if the council wants to accelerate hiring or capital work.