Reading Budget Keeps 175 Police Positions
Council reviews a proposed 2027 police budget that maintains funding for 175 officers while the department works to fill vacancies.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Law Enforcement
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Reading City Council reviewed the city's proposed 2027 police budget, which keeps funding for 175 officers. The department currently has approximately 160 to 161 officers and is recruiting to fill the gap.
Why it matters
Reading residents depend on staffing levels that determine patrol coverage and investigative capacity. Investigator vacancies cannot be filled until the department reaches its required officer staffing level.
The proposed 2027 budget includes $1.7 million for patrol overtime and $600,000 for criminal investigations overtime, with 53 recruits in the current class and 26 candidates undergoing background checks. Three long-vacant positions will remain unfunded, and the chief expects to fill the recruit classes within this year or next year.
The players
Reading City Council
The elected legislative body of Reading that reviews and approves the city's annual budget, including police funding.
The details
Council reviewed the spending plan in committee of the whole. Several expense changes reflect reclassification of costs rather than changes in services, including contracted services falling from $700,933 to $6,750 while dues and subscriptions rise from $500 to $699,359.
Timeline
Wednesday, before November 9, 2026: Council reviewed the police spending plans in committee of the whole.
2027: Three positions remain unfunded in the proposed budget year.
This year or next year: Expected timeframe to fill the recruit classes.
Legal Context
Reading's budget review follows the city's standard annual process, in which council examines departmental spending before the fiscal year begins. The proposal carries forward the 175-officer authorization even as the department operates below that level, leaving vacancies to be addressed through recruiting.
Residents served by Reading's police department would see the effects of staffing decisions through patrol coverage and investigative response times. The budget's overtime allocations indicate how the department plans to maintain service while recruits are trained.
The takeaway
Reading's police budget ties staffing levels directly to investigative capacity, so changes in recruiting will shape how quickly vacancies affect services. Residents interested in the outcome can follow council votes on the final budget.
Further reading
For more on local policing, see Law Enforcement coverage for Reading.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Reading Eagle.
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Do you think Reading should fund police staffing at its full authorized level?
