October 9, 2024 Special Budget Meeting

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

MINUTES OF THE

BOARD OF POLICE COMMISSIONERS

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2024

SPECIAL BUDGET MEETING

 

 

An open meeting of the Board of Police Commissioners of Kansas City, Missouri was held on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, in the Community Room at Police Headquarters, 1125 Locust Street, Kansas City.

 

PRESENT:

 Commissioner Dawn Cramer, President

Commissioner Tom Whittaker, Vice President

Commissioner Madeline Romious, Treasurer

Commissioner Ed Elder, Member

Stacey Graves, Chief of Police

ABSENT:

Mayor Quinton Lucas, Member

Mr. David V. Kenner, Secretary/Attorney

 

This meeting was called to order at 1:09 p.m. by Commissioner Whittaker.  Commissioners Cramer and Elder attended the meeting via WebEx video conference.  Mayor Lucas and Mr. Kenner had excused absences. 

Chief Stacey Graves presented a memorandum dated October 4, 2024, and supporting items, to recommend Board approval of the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Requested Budget.  Major Joshua Heinen provided an overview on the Department’s requests.  He explained that the Department is requesting $347,380,291 for Fiscal Year 2025-2026, compared to $318,775,980 that was appropriated in Fiscal Year 2024-2025, for an overall increase of $28,604,311.  This requested increase is primarily to provide members pay increases, pay the full year cost of last year’s pay increases, fund the increase in pensions, health insurance, legal fees, workers’ compensation, settlements, and equipment.  Major Heinen advised that personnel costs make up 92.3 percent of the Department’s budget. 

Major Heinen advised the City’s General Fund makes up $322,845,246 of the requested budget; of those funds, Jackson County, grant and self-funded activities total $16,873,877 (2.3 percent).  Other City funds equate to $23,902,512 of the requested budget.  The Board Treasurer’s Account funds totals $24,535,045; $16,873,877 of the Treasurer’s Fund is used as a mechanism to reimburse the City for grants, code enforcement efforts regarding private alarms, parades/traffic escorts, and private officer licensing. 

Major Heinen noted that the Department participated in a third-party, market-based compensation analysis for professional staff.  The consultant, Baker Tilly, recommended the Department implement a new professional staff pay scale that reduces the number of pay steps from 14 to 11 and introduces open pay ranges for management positions.  Additionally, the Department seeks to add one professional staff member to the Wellness Unit, four professional staff members in the Digital Technology Section, and an increase of detention officers in anticipation of the reopening of the Headquarters 8th floor jail/booking center.  Chief Graves noted that the hiring of four professional staff members in the Digital Technology Section will allow four sworn law enforcement members to return to patrol, rather than holding administrative positions.

Major Heinen advised that the Department, in collaboration with the City, is implementing Priority-Based Budgeting.  Schedules 5, 6, and 7 provide a detailed breakdown of appropriations and staffing by priority-based budgeting programs.  He added that the City requested departments to submit their budget requests by October 18, 2024.  Members for the Department’s Fiscal Division will provide a presentation on the requested budget to City Council in the coming weeks. 

Commissioner Romious noted that the Department continues to fall farther behind on the replacement of police vehicles due to funding.  Based on vehicle mileage, 313 vehicles and 20 motorcycles need to be replaced in Fiscal Year 2025-26, at an estimated cost of $14,511,091.  Major Heinen noted that the Department strives to be a reasonable and collaborative partner with the City, so they are only requesting $3 million for fleet replacement during the upcoming fiscal year.  He added that this request is in order to balance the other needs and operating costs of the Department. 

Major Heinen thanked Budget Manager Kristine Reiter and the staff in the Fiscal Division for their tremendous work on this thorough budget request that is reflective of the Department’s needs and operating costs. 

Chief Graves thanked the Board for approving the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Requested Budget, supporting pay increases for members, and supporting the Department’s needs to perform duties effectively.  She ensured that she and command staff will be working collaboratively throughout the budget process to have the best funding possible for the Department in upcoming and future budget years. 

A motion was made by Commissioner Romious, with a second by Commissioner Cramer, to approve the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Requested Budget, as presented, for submission to the City for consideration.  The vote was 4-0 in favor.

A motion was made by Commissioner Whittaker, with a second by Commissioner Romious, to go into special closed session at 1:35 p.m., to discuss personnel matters.  The vote was 4-0 in favor.  Following polling, Commissioner Cramer voted Aye, Commissioner Whittaker voted Aye, Commissioner Romious voted Aye, and Commissioner Elder voted Aye.

A motion was made by Commissioner Whittaker, with a second by Commissioner Romious, to come out of special closed session and adjourn the meeting.  The vote was 4-0 in favor.  Following polling, Commissioner Cramer voted Aye, Commissioner Whittaker voted Aye, Commissioner Romious voted Aye, and Commissioner Elder voted Aye.

            The Board adjourned at 2:19 p.m.