Police budget trims staff, emphasizes recruitment and training; chief warns city kennel contract will end in June

Police Chief Burke and department executive Shannon presented the Police Department’s FY26 budget to the Board of Finance on May 28, describing staffing adjustments, technology investments, and recruitment plans while noting operational risks.

Key proposals: The FY26 draft reduces general‑fund staffing costs by approximately $824,000 through a combination of vacant‑position eliminations and other savings; department leaders said about 92% of the department budget is personnel. The department plans to consolidate IT services with City IT for licensing and support savings, to stagger equipment replacement after recent one‑time investments (body‑worn cameras, tasers, digital storage), and to pursue a multi‑pronged recruitment strategy including targeted outreach and a potential vendor-supported recruitment pilot.

Recruitment and training: Chief Burke emphasized the new recruitment strategy and investments in training and leadership development as retention tools. The department said it will budget for funding vacant sworn positions (proposed funding for 10 vacancies) and hopes to send lateral hires or certify new officers via police academies; the department cited constraints on academy slots (four per class, two classes per year) as a factor affecting hiring timelines.

Animal-control and kennel issue: In response to public comment earlier in the meeting, the chief said animal-control duties are currently managed by the Community Support/Community Service Officer team and that the department has enrolled staff in ACO training. He also said the long‑standing kennel contract the city relies on will end in June: “Once that contract expires in June of this year, they are no longer gonna be in business,” he said, and added that many kennels will not accept animals with unknown vaccination status; the CSO manager is searching for alternatives.

Operational threats and opportunities: The chief flagged risks to training and equipment procurement from price increases (for example, ammunition), the need to replace aging patrol vehicles, and upcoming contract negotiations with the police union. Opportunities include better IT cost control through centralization, improved recruitment, and grants (e.g., Bulletproof Vest grant) that support specific equipment needs. The department said it expects no reduction in core services despite the savings built into the FY26 proposal.

Decision context: The presentation was informational; no formal vote on the Police Department budget occurred at this meeting. Chief Burke said departmental leaders will continue to update the administration and councilors on recruitment and on the kennel contract search.