October 2, 2023 Special Budget Meeting
MINUTES OF THE
BOARD OF POLICE COMMISSIONERS
MONDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2023
SPECIAL BUDGET MEETING
An open meeting of the Board of Police Commissioners of Kansas City, Missouri was held on Monday, October 2, 2023, in the Community Room at Police Headquarters, 1125 Locust Street, Kansas City.
PRESENT:
Commissioner Cathy Dean, President
Commissioner Dawn Cramer, Vice President
Commissioner Tom Whittaker, Treasurer
Commissioner Mark Tolbert, Member
Mayor Quinton Lucas, Member
Mr. David V. Kenner, Secretary/Attorney
Stacey Graves, Chief of Police
This meeting was called to order at 1:27 p.m. by Commissioner Dean. Commissioner Cramer and Mr. Kenner attended the meeting via WebEx video conference.
Chief Stacey Graves presented a memorandum dated September 28, 2023, and supporting items, to recommend Board approval of the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Requested Budget. Acting Major Joshua Heinen provided an overview on the Department’s requests. He explained that the Department is requesting $328,327,167 for Fiscal Year 2024-2025, compared to $284,242,620 in Fiscal Year 2023-2024, for an overall increase of $44,084,542. This requested increase is primarily to adjust the law enforcement pay scale, members’ pay increases, pension, health insurance, and critical computer equipment. The City’s General Fund makes up $280,525,828 of the requested budget. Other City funds equate to $23,365,961 of the requested budget. The Board Treasurer’s Account funds totals $24,435,373; $16,493,704 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.
Captain Heinen explained that 89 percent of the General Fund request will be used towards personal services, six percent to contractual services, three percent to capital outlay, and two percent to commodities; 91.1 percent of the budget is personnel costs included in both personal services and contractual services. The requested increase of $42,036,140 to the General Fund includes $23.9 million to salaries, $9.3 million to pensions, $1 million to health insurance, $6.6 million to necessary computer and communications equipment, and $1.2 million in other adjustments.
Captain Heinen explained that the request for $23.9 million is to support critical funding to adjust the law enforcement pay scale and an annual raise for professional staff. The Department is the largest law enforcement agency in the state and region, and the current law enforcement pay scale is not reflective of that. In order to remain competitive in the ability to recruit and retain a quality work force, the requested funding will allow adjusting the starting law enforcement annual salary to $60,000. The proposed salary increase will bring KCPD to the fourth highest starting pay in the region, behind the Des Moines, Iowa, St. Peters, Missouri, and Omaha, Nebraska police departments. The current salary ranks 17th out of 20.
Mayor Lucas spoke about the substantial requested increase for legal fees. General Counsel Nathan Weinert advised that the Department has several large cases right now that contribute to the need for increased funds. Other requested increases are needed for payment to Motorola for the radio project and required migration to Windows 11 for all Department computers.
Commissioner Whittaker stated that he continues to see a notable amount of retirements, and the Department has not been able to hire enough officers to keep up with attrition. Chief Graves advised that the Department’s full-strength number for law enforcement personnel is 1,408, but 1,258 is the Department’s self-assessed goal (factoring in attrition). Currently, the Department has 1,099 sworn members and 43 Academy recruits. Chief Graves discussed the Department’s enhanced recruitment efforts.
Commissioner Cramer expressed concern with the Department’s request for $2.5 million for lawsuit settlements. She believes the Department should realistically be asking for at least $5 million; Mayor Lucas agreed. Mayor Lucas requested that the Office of General Counsel produce a potential liability exposure report for existing cases. Mr. Weinert advised that he will provide the Board with this information.
Commissioner Dean requested abbreviation clarifications be made in the Fiscal Year 2024-25 Requested Budget document prior to sending to the City.
A motion was made by Commissioner Tolbert, with a second by Commissioner Whittaker, to approve the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Requested Budget, as presented, for submission to the City for consideration. The vote was 4-0 in favor, with Mayor Lucas abstaining.
Chief Graves thanked the Board for approving the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Requested Budget and supporting pay increases for members. 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 Tolbert, with a second by Mayor Lucas, to adjourn the open session meeting. The vote was 5-0 in favor.
The Board adjourned at 2:26 p.m.