Law-enforcement presentation details K-9 and investigator stipends, small overall increase

Ed, presenting his department’s preliminary numbers, told commissioners he had included a 4% wage increase and a $5,000 addition to capital for vehicle purchases. He described two recurring stipends: a $5,000 investigator stipend and a $6,000 K-9 stipend tied to a contract; the K-9 stipend was described as contract-driven and necessary to compensate a handler for off-duty care.

Ed emphasized the stipends would be paid monthly rather than in a lump sum to avoid the difficulty of recouping pay if an employee left. He summarized his net 2027 increase as relatively modest: "going into 2027, my budget will only increase $38,562.65 overall," and he answered commissioners’ questions about reclassification and HR coordination for those positions.