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Primary Sponsor

Last Action

Re-ref Com On Appropriations/Base Budget2026-04-29

Vote Breakdown

No floor votes recorded.

Plain Language Summary

This bill appropriates $150,000 in recurring annual state funds and $100,000 in one-time state funds to the Town of Pinetops to help pay for police department staffing and equipment needs. The funds begin in fiscal year 2026-2027.

Arguments in Favor

• •Supporters argue that state funding helps small towns maintain adequate police services that might otherwise be unaffordable through local budgets alone.
• •The grant provides resources for both hiring officers and purchasing necessary equipment, which can improve public safety and emergency response capabilities in Pinetops.

Arguments Against

• •Opponents may question why state General Fund dollars should support a specific town's police department rather than allowing local government to fund its own services, and whether this sets a precedent for similar requests from other municipalities.
• •Some may also ask whether the directed grant is the most efficient use of limited state resources compared to broader public safety funding formulas.