Fire, police present 2025 budgets

CHENEY – The fire and police departments presented their budgets for 2025 to City Council during its Oct.22 meeting.

Other city departments are scheduled to present their budgets at the Nov. 12 council meeting.

In 2024, the Police Department operated on a $4.3 million budget. The department is asking for a slight increase to approximately $4.307 million for 2025.

Meanwhile, the Fire Department is asking for a budget increase from just over $2.9 million in 2024 to around $3.1 million in 2025, reflecting a $202,500 increase.

Police budget

Police Chief Rick Beghtol identified several items in his budget, starting with the FLOCK Safety Camera System, which automatically reads license plates. The system would cost $58,000 over two years. It not only captures vehicle and license plate images, it would share data with Spokane County’s Real-Time Crime Center.

“Airway Heights, Liberty Lake, Spokane and Spokane County all have FLOCK Safety Cameras installed in their respective jurisdictions and have had significant successes in solving crime, locating missing persons and tracing the steps of suspected criminals,” Beghtol said. “We had a taste of what they can do. The county let us use it.

“In the first hour of it being deployed, we recovered two stolen cars.”

In addition, the department budget includes $160,000 to replace two vehicles. Beghtol also proposed a $4,000 allocation for office technology upgrades.

Fire budget

Fire Chief Tom Jenkins reported a rise in emergency calls, with 2,058 calls received this year compared to 1,866 last year, a trend he expects to continue as Cheney’s population grows.

Emergency medical services accounted for 74% of calls, with a majority related to behavioral issues, overdoses and alcohol, he said. Fire alarms, canceled calls, public service needs and 6% of actual fires made up the remainder.

Jenkins noted Wednesdays are their busiest days, averaging 5.7 calls.

The Fire Department budget includes a $139,100 increase in wages and benefits for 2025, while overtime expenses are set to remain at $72,600, the same as 2024.

Jenkins highlighted the need to spend $300,000 on four items for the department’s operational safety — a new deputy fire chief’s response vehicle ($90,000), apparatus bay ramp repairs ($126,000), narcotics security upgrades ($35,000) and a bay door replacement ($80,000).

Additionally, Jenkins aims to restructure the department by adding a full-time fire marshal and create a cross-shift lieutenant position to cover known absences, which would not require hiring additional full-time employees.

He emphasized ongoing training and equipment maintenance to comply with state and federal standards and noted plans to seek grants for county medical resources, emergency management, and hazardous materials detection tools.