Council hears $\u00A0police‑contract increases; members propose shifting some overtime to PTP funds

Councilmembers spent substantial time reviewing the police‑related portion of the budget after staff and council raised a multi‑hundred‑thousand‑dollar increase in public‑safety costs. Councilmember Sanchez said he reviewed 56 pages of collective bargaining agreements and flagged a 10% increase effective Sept. 1 for FDLE‑covered sworn officers as a contributor to the jump in costs. He described the rise as heavy and urged the council to explore where parts of overtime might be funded from transportation grants or special funds instead of the general fund.

Sanchez proposed moving two overtime line items — townwide traffic enforcement and day traffic detail for mitigation on Miami Lakes Drive — into the PTP 80 fund. Staff said PTP currently funds school crossing guards ($143,000) and a $767,533 transfer for the 59th Avenue project, and that some transportation‑related overtime could conceivably be shifted if offsets are identified.