BUDGET ADJUSTMENTS by LR board total $ 2.8M.

New $ 2.8M covers police, other costs

The Little Rock Board of Directors amended the city’s 2015 budget Tuesday to reflect prior Police Department purchases and other changes.

The seven adjustments totaled more than $ 2.8 million, raising the city’s 2015 operating budget to $ 197,462,150.

City Manager Bruce Moore said the city received $ 2.6 million more than anticipated in net revenue from sales tax and franchise tax collections. Much of that will be allocated to what the city labels “special projects,” including lot maintenance, homeless outreach, and the purchase of police riot gear and 33 new police patrol vehicles.

The board previously approved the riot gear and vehicle purchases. The city is buying 33 Ford Police Interceptor sedans and sport utility vehicles that should be outfitted and ready for use by March.

The $ 1.5 million vehicle purchase was welcomed by the police officer union — the Fraternal Order of Police — which has publicly criticized the city’s maintenance and replacement of police vehicles for months.

The union’s president, Jarred McCauley, once called the current police vehicles “deathtraps,” describing high mileage and poor upkeep.

In addition to the vehicle purchase, Moore has promised to take a deeper look at an audit report paid for by the union that says the city’s Fleet Services Department operates inefficiently. The report also criticizes the city’s lack of a detailed vehicle replacement plan.

Other changes to city expenditures included in Tuesday’s budget amendment include increases in vacation and sick pay, overtime and zoo maintenance.

About $ 153,000 was added for the construction of a fueling station for city vehicles at a future police substation being built at the Josephine Pankey Community Center on Cantrell Road. The center, police substation and fueling station are scheduled to be complete by the spring.