August 22, 2022 |
Police officers in Saratoga could be wearing outdated body armor because of a budget oversight. Money believed to have been set aside to purchase new bullet proof vests for the police department could not be located within the current budget. The question became whether the vests were included in the budget at all.
During last Tuesday’s Saratoga Town Council meeting, Police Chief Kenneth Lehr, requested that the council approve funding to replace three vests that are over six years old.
Pictured above: File photo of Saratoga Town Hall/Police Department. Photo by Cali O’Hare/Bigfoot 99.
Chief Lehr said that the vests were allocated in the Capital Equipment budget. Councilman Jon Nelson, the budget hawk on the governing body, questioned the chief’s assertion.
Councilman Nelson, who joined the meeting via an internet video link, said that no money was specifically set aside in the budget to cover the cost of replacing the vests.
Chief Lehr said that he thought the vests were lumped into that specific part of departments $1 million budget.
Councilman Nelson said that it was a budget issue and not specifically about the bullet-proof vests.
The council tabled issue until funding could be found.
