Budget Committee Receives 2027 Saint Paul Police Department Budget Presentation on September 9, 2026

The Saint Paul Budget Committee met on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at 10:00 AM in Council Chambers at City Hall to receive the Saint Paul Police Department's 2027 budget presentation. Chief Henry and SPPD leadership presented the proposal; the committee received and filed the presentation (SR 26-194). The minutes list all seven members present; the transcript's roll call is garbled and references an absence not reflected in the minutes, and Councilmember Bowie participated later in the discussion. No public testimony was heard.

Discussion Items

• Chief Henry framed 2027 as managing and absorbing budget cuts while maintaining service levels. The mayor asked all departments for three budgets: one meeting target reductions, one accounting for existing but previously unbudgeted expenses, and a "dream budget" at 665 officers rather than the national-average figure of 725. SPPD met its $4.9 million general-fund target reduction, and the mayor added back some previously unbudgeted items. He noted that 93% of the department's budget is salaries, compared with a city average of about 82%.
• Overtime was down 17.41% year-to-date through pay period 17 compared with the same point in 2025. The 2026 general-fund overtime budget was $2.4 million, and the department was pacing slightly over it. Staff-shortage callback was the largest overtime category at $680,000. Councilmembers asked to see holistic overtime totals, including amounts paid from savings created by unfilled sworn FTE positions; the chair requested 2024, 2025, and unaudited 2026 actuals.
• Chief Henry described using 12-officer district minimums, shifting resources across districts, and attaching overtime callbacks to regular shifts to cut costs. He said reimbursed billings for special events and the bomb squad cover day-of labor but not full event planning and administration. The mayor provided $600,000 in the 2027 budget for special event revenue and expense. Councilmembers requested total event prep costs, net event costs, and itemized mobile field force/civil unrest data, including Metro surge and the No Kings protest.
• Chief Henry explained that the city ended off-duty police contracts around 2019; event organizers now pay overtime rates. He supported the change, but said it made staffing events more expensive.
• For 2027, the proposed budget includes cuts to command positions, $2 million in sworn attrition for 11 FTEs, and some civilian vacancies. Chief Henry said no officer would be laid off and simply out of work, but promoted sergeants could return to officer rank and one civilian position is expected to be eliminated. A department work group will examine lower minimums, online reporting, and other options; changes could begin around December.
• The non-fatal shooting unit, funded by one-time public safety aid, will not be disbanded but may shrink. Chief Henry cited non-fatal shooting victims falling from 193 in 2022 to 71 or 72 last year, with 2026 pacing at about 81 or 82. Councilmembers asked for the unit's actual cost.
• On group violence and ASPIRE, Chief Henry reported charging rates rising from 28% in 2022 to 66% currently and expected to exceed 70%; 2025 cases stood at 71% cleared versus 68.5% earlier, while Denver's top comparable rate was 64–65%. One participant was re-arrested as the perpetrator of a shooting.
• Police academies historically had no direct general-fund line and were funded from special funds or one-time aid; the 2027 proposal moves academy funding into the general fund. The department hopes to run two academies, though the proposed line reflects 1.5 academies. Councilmembers questioned budgeting 1.5 academies, asked for cost breakdowns and cadet numbers, and discussed recouping training costs. The department reported feeder-program retention rising from 67% in 2021 to 88% currently.
• Councilmember Jost observed that 2026 budgeted for 33 unfilled FTEs costing $4.7 million and compared that with 11 FTEs and $2 million in 2027 attrition, noting a roughly 30% higher per-FTE cost; she asked whether the average was accurate.
• The administration proposed raising impound administrative fees from $80 to $120 and storage fees from $15 to $25. Some members supported updating fees to match inflation and asked for review of other fees; Councilmember Bowie raised concerns about residents' ability to retrieve impounded cars.
• Chief Henry highlighted the real-time crime information center and drone program as efficient and life-saving, including assisting a child in danger and helping the fire department. He said the program is response-based, not surveillance. Councilmember Bowie requested data on technology costs, savings, and total philanthropic and grant funding, noting the Saint Paul Police Foundation is outside the general fund.
• Chief Henry proposed that the state should share costs of capital-city-related events, saying Saint Paul residents pay twice for that burden. Councilmembers said follow-up data would help them support that case.

Key Outcomes

• The committee received and filed SR 26-194, the 2027 Saint Paul Police Department budget presentation. No formal vote on the budget was taken.
• Councilmembers requested follow-up data, including: holistic overtime actuals inclusive of vacancy savings; itemized civil unrest/mobile field force and special event costs; the scale of remaining unbudgeted items; non-fatal shooting unit cost; academy cost, cadet, and retention data, plus recoupment options; total philanthropic and grant funding; equipment parts increase details; and the total cost impact of impound fee changes.