Covington council adopts budget amendment adding traffic officer, adjusting capital funds

The Covington City Council on June 3 adopted an ordinance amending the city’s 2025 operating and capital budget, approving an administrative increase to fund Christmas decorations and a tour shuttle vehicle, a half-year salary for an additional traffic officer, and a $93,000 reduction to a capital project.

Councilman Roberts said the ordinance includes the three administrative increases he just described and noted the capital-project decrease will come from the city’s capital projects fund while the other two items will be funded from the general fund. "You'll see on here we have an administrative increase for some Christmas decorations and a tour shuttle vehicle ... and then the half year salary for an additional police officer for traffic and then a capital funds project at $93,000 the decrease to that," Councilman Roberts said.

The council closed the public hearing, voted to adopt the ordinance and recorded unanimous votes in favor during a roll call. The motion to adopt was made during the meeting and the roll call recorded seven affirmative votes from council members present.

Supporters during the meeting framed the added traffic officer as a response to accidents and enforcement needs. At least one council member asked whether adding the officer means there will be two or three traffic officers on duty at all times; the response was that staffing will cover traffic duties and accidents across the city, but the council did not specify exact shift assignments.

The action modifies the city’s 2025 operating and capital budget; the ordinance number was listed on the agenda as an item to amend the 2025 budget. The meeting record notes the administrative increases are charged to the general fund while the capital decrease is taken from the capital projects fund.

Council comments during the discussion also encouraged community engagement programs such as "Coffee with a Cop," and praised the department’s ongoing work. The ordinance was adopted by roll call vote with all voting members recorded as voting yes.

The council did not specify exact shift schedules or a start date for the new traffic officer during the meeting; implementation timing and assignment details were not specified and will require follow-up with city staff.