Sacramento Proposes Increased Police Budget, Rejects Defunding

One of California's largest cities is planning to unveil its highest-ever police budget, bucking the trend to defund law enforcement.

The proposed Sacramento police budget is set just shy at $165.8 million, a roughly $9.4 million increase from last year’s amended budget.

Sacramento had voted in October 2020 to push for "new approaches" to public safety, but the new budget covers a number of changes that would be necessary for general police reforms.

The budget covers a number of additions, including five new officers and necessary equipment, such as body cameras -- set at $1.6 million -- and IT infrastructures such as data storage, software and backup solutions -- coming in at $1.5 million, Fox reports.

The budget also proposes $880,740 for "less-than-lethal" equipment.