Cranford Police Department leadership presented the committee with a 2025 operating budget that includes pay increases tied to collective bargaining agreements, higher service and maintenance contracts, and capital requests for technology and vehicles.

Police officials said a 2.5% wage increase for bargaining-unit personnel and salary step progression account for much of the personnel cost increase. They also highlighted rising service-contract costs for communications systems and automated license-plate readers (ALPRs). The chief said ALPRs have provided investigative leads and helped thwart thefts and burglaries and that maintenance and service fees for radio and 911 connections are rising.

For capital, the department requested funding to replace or upgrade interview-room cameras and add an additional Axon-compatible interview-room system to align body-worn and in-car camera systems; two additional power-load ambulance-style stretchers and one Lucas mechanical CPR device for the fire/EMS program were requested by Fire/EMS (included in the department presentations). The police also requested 6 additional solar radar speed signs to expand targeted, cloud-based speed monitoring and 11 transfer switches for traffic signals to allow rapid generator hookup during outages.

Officials described a planned vehicle lease-purchase program for patrol vehicles and noted higher upfit costs for modern police vehicles; they also told the committee that vehicle equipment (light bars, cameras, modems, in-car computers) has become substantially more expensive. Staff emphasized the upgrades are tied to officer safety, evidence quality and more efficient deployment of patrol resources.

The committee did not vote on any of the capital requests at the session; staff were directed to refine cost estimates, explore state contract pricing where available, and return with formal appropriation recommendations.