Fiscal Note
The resolution proposes amending the 2026 budget by transferring $28,500 from the contingent reserve to the Office of the Independent Monitor. The additional funding would be used for salaries and benefits to increase a 0.6 FTE data analyst position to a 1.0 FTE for the remainder of 2026 ($13,500) and increases the amount for training and conferences by $15,000.
The OIM’s purchased services budget is $79,280. This includes costs for legal services ($50,000), the Police Civilian Oversight Board ($13,580), custodial charges ($9,800) and other expenses ($5,900). As of August 26, 2026 the available budget is $46,567.
The 2026 adopted budget includes $2,150,408 in contingent reserve that may be reallocated to various agencies throughout the year to fund unanticipated expenses or revenue shortfalls. Legistar file 92053 transferred $70,000 from contingent reserve to utilities to fund MadCAP, a comprehensive customer assistance program for the City’s municipal services bill. Legistar file 94055 transferred $100,000 to Engineering for a projected deficit in facility maintenance costs and $400,000 to the Clerk’s office for a projected deficit in purchased services and supplies for elections operations. The remaining balance is $1,580,408. If this resolution is adopted, $28,500 would be transferred to OIM, leaving a remaining balance of $1,551,908.
Title
Amending the 2026 adopted operating budget by transferring $28,500 from the contingent reserve to the Office of the Independent Monitor for additional staffing and services costs, and directing staff to provide a full accounting of costs associated with the City’s critical incident response between July 22, 2026 and September 8, 2026.
Body
Editor's Note: This file was introduced by title only from the floor of the August 4, 2026 Common Council meeting. The original title of the file was "Resolution introduced by Alder Matthews from the floor of the August 4, 2026 Council Meeting." This has been updated to reflect the actions proposed in the body.
WHEREAS, the Office of the Independent Monitor’s (OIM) 2026 budget includes authorization for 2.6 full time equivalent employees (FTE), including a 0.6 FTE data analyst; and,
WHEREAS, the OIM wishes to increase the data analyst to 1.0FTE to support ongoing case work and analysis needs, for a total estimated cost of $13,500 for salaries and benefits for the remainder of 2026; and,
WHEREAS, the OIM’s purchased services budget includes $2,900 for staff conferences and trainings and $13,580 for Police Civilian Oversight Board (PCOB) stipends and other expenses, including $5,400 designated for board member conferences and trainings; and,
WHEREAS, the OIM wishes to increase conferences and trainings by $15,000 to support the cost of sending at least 7 staff and board members to the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement (NACOLE) conference; and,
WHEREAS, funding for these additional costs may be transferred from the general fund contingent reserve to the OIM; and,
WHEREAS, the City has incurred costs in the form of overtime and other expenses in relation to the police-involved shooting on July 22, 2026 and subsequent encampment response. Understanding the full scope of costs is an important step for transparency to understand the City’s response. This transparency of funds is especially significant given the limitations placed on this council by the State’s Expenditure Restraint Incentive Program (ERIP).
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Common Council authorize amending the OIM’s budget by transferring $28,500 from the general fund contingent reserve to the OIM in the following major expenditure categories: $11,700 for salaries, $1,700 for benefits, $15,000 for purchased services; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the data analyst position is authorized as a 1.0 FTE for the remainder of the 2026 calendar year; and,
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Finance Director or designee is directed to submit a memorandum or report to the Common Council detailing the costs incurred for the City’s critical incident response from July 22, 2026 through September 8, 2026. A preliminary report shall be submitted by the October 6, 2026 Common Council meeting, with a final report submitted by the December 8, 2026 Common Council meeting.