Council approves $220,000 from fund balance to add two police positions

City Council approved funding for two police officer positions, numbering 34 and 35, using $220,000 from the city's unassigned fund balance.

The Public Safety Committee reported a unanimous recommendation to fund the two positions. "After much debate, the motion is to fund 2 positions totaling $220,000 from the unassigned fund balance. It was passed unanimously," the committee report stated.

Council members discussed that the chief had requested up to 39 positions and that additional positions might be addressed in FY26 or FY27 budgets depending on overtime and other offsets. Chief Coppola was present; the committee and council recorded a roll-call vote approving the funding 9–0. The clerk called the roll and recorded each alderman's vote.

Council members directed that the chief and the mayor continue to review staffing needs and budget availability throughout the coming fiscal year. The council's vote authorized the treasurer and police department to proceed with recruitment and position-control adjustments as permitted by the FY25/FY26 process.