TOPEKA (KSNT) – The Topeka city council held a public hearing on Tuesday and discussed making changes to the Student Resource Officer (SRO) program. City leaders also approved new utility rates for 2027-2030.
Student Resource Officer discussion
Tuesday night’s public hearing was a part of the operating budget discussions for 2027. The documents presented at the Sept. 1 meeting said the General Fund revenue would decrease by $300,000, pending changes to the SRO program. In conjunction, the civilian Topeka Center for Advanced Learning & Careers (TCALC) position would be eliminated of $84,000.
Several residents, local educators and students spoke at the meeting and urged city council to vote against removing the SRO program.
“We are here today to stand up for the safety of our students and ask to please keep student resource officers at USD 501,” a student from USD 501 said at the meeting. “When Mayor Duncan announced the removal of SROs TPS (Topeka Public Schools) offered an additional $150,000 to save the program, that offer was rejected,” the student continued.
“The Topeka Police Department, I think each one of these principals that are here, students, staff and families can share countless stories in way they which prevented crime in the community,” said Superintendent of 501 Dr. Tiffany Anderson at the meeting. “What we are asking is to please maintain Topeka Police Department SROs.”
City officials discussed the budget after public comment and mentioned the contract for SROs are set to expire next year in June.
“We had a meeting with 501 (Topeka Public Schools), we sat down in a room and we expressed each of our sides expressed our concerns with what this contract meant for the future,” said Mayor Spencer Duncan at the meeting. “It’s not just about money for the city, it’s about operational issues, it’s about direction of resources, there was a list of things we had. There was a list of things that 501 had and we heard them.”
Duncan continued and said that discussions with 501 are still open. There was no vote on Tuesday’s meeting concerning SROs in the 2027 budget.
Utility rates changes
Since July, the city has had four different meetings to present and receive community feedback for utility rates ordinances for 2027-2030. The changes staff agreed on was removing base changes for water and wastewater on inactive properties and gradual elimination of customers class toward one standard volume rate.
Additionally, industrial rates were changed to give the largest utility users more time to budget for significant increases. The industrial modification was completed by adjusting capital time and the city reported it had no impact on residential rates.
City leaders discussed pushing for a forensic audit on the department with mixed opinions on each side.
“I will be voting no for this,” Councilmember Christina Valdivia-Alcala said at the meeting. “We need an forensic audit.”
“This is the department that is our livelihood,” Councilmember Brett Kell said at the meeting. “If we are going to cut into a general fund to not raise rates we’re going to run into issues in the next couple years.”
City leaders voted 8-2 approving new utility rates with Councilmembers Valdivia-Alcala and Michelle Bradberry voting against it.
The city of Topeka is expected to vote on the proposed budget for 2027 at next week’s city council meeting. To find out more information about the operating budget, click here.
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