Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution amends the 2023 Police Department Operating Budget by reallocating expenditures funded by a Wisconsin Department of Administration (WDOA) Law Enforcement Agencies Safer Communities grant. WDOA awarded the Madison Police Department (MPD) $834,338 in 2022 to reimburse various expenditures through December 31, 2023. The original grant budget included allocations for software that MPD has since learned is not available and sign-on bonuses for out-of-state recruits in the 2023 academy, of which there were none. MPD is requesting to reallocate these funds totaling $195,000 to the items that are specified in the resolution.
The resolution also increases the Police Department budget by $1,000 reflecting the total grant award of $834,338; the original resolution authorized $833,338. The additional funding will be used for new hire initial issue items. There is no impact on the levy.
Title
A Resolution amending the 2023 Operating Budget of the Police Department, adjusting the Wisconsin Department of Administration Law Enforcement Agencies Safer Communities grant budget
Body
WHEREAS on March 15, 2022, Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers announced a new investment of more than $50 million to help make Wisconsin communities safer, including nearly $19 million to be allocated to every local and tribal Law Enforcement Agency (LEA) in the state, through the state’s American Rescue Plan Act funds; and,
WHEREAS, the Wisconsin Department of Administration (WDOA) awarded the Madison Police Department $834,338 to be used to reimburse expenditures through December 31, 2023 for certain costs associated with hiring, training, testing, and equipping law-enforcement officers, as well as implementing community policing and crime reduction initiatives; and,
WHEREAS, the Common Council approved accepting these grant funds in 2022 (File ID 72856 and 2023 Operating Budget); and,
WHEREAS, WDOA has since issued clarifying and additional guidance on the use of these funds; and,
WHEREAS, the Police Department has been seeking ways to improve officer recruitment and retention, and improve operations and initiatives to better align with its community policing goals of increased legitimacy, trust and accountability.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Police Operating Budget reallocates $195,000 in its existing WDOA LEA grant budget as follows:
• Security cameras for repair and/or replacement of existing cameras across the City which are presently inoperable and for which capital funding through the Information Technology Department is unavailable (up to $109,345)
• Psychological evaluations, other initial issue uniform and supplies and equipment for new recruits entering the 2023 Police Pre-Service Academy ($64,055)
• Pay employer fringe benefits on the $2,000 new hire bonuses for recruits entering the Police Pre-Service Academy ($21,600)
• Any cost savings will be used for one-time equipment and supplies expenses.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Police Operating Budget be increased by an additional $1,000 for new hire initial issue items, reflecting the total grant award of $834,338, not $833,338 as written in the original resolution.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Police 2023 Operating Budget is amended as described above to appropriate any grant funds received to be used for the purposes of the grant, including modifications upon appropriate approvals from the funder, the Wisconsin Department of Administration.