Round Rock Budgets $37 Million To Fund Police In 2022

Round Rock TX

13 August, 2021

1:11 PM

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ROUND ROCK, TX — Round Rock will devote $37 million to its police department for the 2022 fiscal year. The proposed fiscal year 2022 budget includes significant spending increases for both police and fire, who together make up nearly half of the $146.8 million General Fund, according to city officials. Here are three takeaways from this proposed budget. Round Rock police will get an 8 percent increase to hire officers Safety is always a top priority! #RoundRock's proposed budget devotes $37 million to @roundrockpolice, an 8% year-over-year increase. LEARN MORE: https://t.co/Pj0ZHXTNie pic.twitter.com/atmpA5WDta— City of Round Rock (@roundrock) August 12, 2021 According to the proposed budget, the reserved funds will allow Round Rock police to hire six new field officers and four non-commissioned specialists. The $37 million budget is eight percent higher than the current year, city officials said. Round Rock Chief of Police Allen Banks said the new personnel are needed to grow the department's capabilities to respond to a growing community. Round Rock fire will get a 17 percent increase to fund new mental health program (Shutterstock) The Fire Department is looking at a 17 percent increase, which is needed to fund a new program that benefits both police and fire, officials said. City officials said the program will improve public safety response to behavioral healthcare, which includes mental illness and substance abuse. The City Council has prioritized improving its response to those types of calls, and the proposed fiscal year 2022 budget includes $2 million in new funding for a mobile outreach team. Fire Chief Robert Isbell said the 14-member team would function as mental health first responders, integrating with police, fire and emergency management to provide emergency and non-emergency behavioral healthcare. Both Round Rock police and fire chiefs said the new program is needed to respond to the growing number of mental health calls received by 9-1-1 call takers. It will also allow RRPD officers to focus more resources on crime and community relations rather than medical calls, Banks said. "We need to be able to respond appropriately and effectively to healthcare emergencies," Isbell said. "This new team will also provide on-going support to those in our community dealing with these types of issues in an effort to prevent a mental health crisis. In that way, it's similar to our fire prevention programs: we'd rather provide education and support on the front end to avoid having to respond to an emergency that could have been avoided." The American Rescue Plan will cover $5.7 million of the new program (Shutterstock) City officials said the American Rescue Plan Act funds will cover $5.7 million of the team's start-up costs over the next three years. According to the city's proposed fiscal budget plan, about $2.3 million will cover the community risk reduction budget request for the 2022 fiscal year and about $1.8 million for 2023 and 2024. In total, the city received about $16.4 million in federal funding from the plan, which will also help pay for major infrastructure costs, including stormwater, over the next couple years. RELATED COVERAGE: Round Rock Budgets $525.3 Million For 2022 Fiscal Year Cedar Park Moves Council Meetings Online As COVID-19 Cases Rise Traffic Signal Coming To Hero Way, Ronald Reagan Blvd. In Leander