Milford Police Requested $1.1M for Cruisers and Body Cameras.
The Milford Police Department requested $290,000 for new cruisers and $819,306 for its Axon body camera and taser contract in the upcoming fiscal year. Mayor Richard Smith's proposed budget recommends $0 for both.
The Milford Police Department asked for more than $1.1 million in equipment funding for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. Mayor Richard Smith's proposed budget recommends zero dollars for the two largest requests.
According to the mayor's proposed budget, the Police Department requested $290,000 for new police cruisers and $819,306 for its Axon Consolidated Contract, which covers body-worn cameras, in-car video systems, tasers, and related equipment and services.
The mayor's recommendation for both line items: $0.
The cuts represent the largest gap between department requests and mayoral recommendations in the Police Department's capital outlay budget. Other equipment requests, including $5,000 for drones, $5,000 for portable radios, and $9,000 for computer software, were approved as requested.
The Police Department's overall budget request was $20,312,565. The mayor recommended $18,913,827 — a reduction of approximately $1.4 million, with the cruiser and Axon cuts accounting for most of the difference.
In his budget message dated January 29, 2026, Mayor Smith acknowledged "unprecedented upward pressure" on the budget, citing over $3 million in public safety contracts agreed to before he took office, along with rising health care costs and the effects of the recent property revaluation.
The budget document does not explain how the Police Department will maintain its fleet without new cruiser funding or what happens to the Axon contract if no funding is allocated.
The Board of Aldermen will hold public hearings on the proposed budget through May 14, 2026. Residents can view the full proposed budget on the city's website.
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John S
John S - Reporter for The Milford Times
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