Wichita City Council Approves Increase in Police Budget

The Wichita (KS) City Council recently approved a budget for the 2021-2022 fiscal year that included $99 million for the police department, an increase of more than seven million dollars over last year, despite cries from citizens and advocacy groups to defund the department.

According to KAKE-TV , the increase to the police department's budget is aimed at building a Central Wichita substation and hiring more police officers, something the department says it needs to handle changing crime trends.

Several citizens opposing the increase in the agency's budget showed up to the city council meeting to voice their opinions, saying that the funds should go to shore up social services.