SUBSTITUTE: Authorizing the Madison Police Department to accept grants for training on an ongoing basis.

This resolution authorizes the Madison Police Department (MPD) to accept training grants on an ongoing basis without requiring individual Common Council approval for each grant. This authority would be subject to annual budget limits, with awards exceeding the budget requiring separate Council approval. The 2026 budget includes $50,000 in assumed grant revenues. The resolution aims to streamline the process for accepting grants that are sometimes offered on short notice, preventing MPD from having to decline such funding due to timing constraints. A key provision requires MPD to report annually to the Finance Committee on grants received. This deviates from standard City procedures (APM 1-1 and 1-9) which typically require Council approval for all grant acceptances and contracts.

This change allows the Madison Police Department to more readily accept grants for training, potentially leading to improved police training without direct cost to taxpayers, as it operates within the existing budget. However, it reduces the typical Council oversight for these funds.

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