Council Reviews FY27 Budget Proposals for Public Safety, Recreation, and Health Departments
Regular Meeting
Summarized by: claude-sonnet-4-6 | Date: 2026-04-20
- Police Department FY27 budget proposes a $607,700 (3.9%) increase, primarily due to personnel costs; department has 5.5 vacancies and 7 candidates in background investigation
- Fire Department FY27 budget proposes an $121,680 (8.5%) increase due to officer stipends, equipment maintenance, and utility costs; ladder truck delivery expected February or March
- Ambulance Services flagged uncertainty around federal Medicare reimbursement changes; COVID SBA loan remains outstanding on a 25-year term
- Recreation Department FY27 budget proposes a $153,180 (5.6%) General Fund increase; senior meal program formally built into operating budget for the first time at roughly $30,000 annually
- Health Department FY27 General Fund budget proposes a $29,610 (4.3%) increase due to personnel costs
- Pool registration opens May 21 for residents; pools open June 16
- Police cadet program down to 7-8 members; exploring merger with Windsor Locks and East Windsor programs
The April 20 special meeting was dedicated to FY27 budget presentations from public safety, health, and recreation departments. Police staffing shortages and overtime costs dominated discussion, with Chief Melanson noting a nationwide trend of officers leaving the profession after 3-5 years; the department recently joined the statewide PoliceApp recruitment platform. The Fire Department's budget increase was driven largely by volunteer officer stipends and equipment costs, while the high school fire science program has grown to 53 enrolled students. Ambulance Services noted reimbursement timing gaps and uncertainty around potential federal Medicare changes. Recreation highlighted the senior meal program being permanently added to the operating budget, and flagged rising part-time labor costs driven by annual minimum wage increases.