Racine Will Propose Higher Police Overtime Budget
Mayor Cory Mason plans to increase the police overtime budget to $2.5 million for the upcoming 2027 fiscal year.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Law Enforcement
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Mayor Cory Mason has proposed a 2027 police budget for Racine that includes a $1 million increase in overtime funding. The total police General Fund budget is set at $39.2 million, marking a $2.3 million increase from previous levels.
Why it matters
The proposed budget increase addresses financial pressures from settled labor agreements and the expiration of prior overtime grant support. It aims to support department operations while balancing a shift in staffing priorities.
The proposed budget maintains an authorized sworn force of 196 positions while the department currently employs 183 personnel. Calls for service rose to 51,228 from 45,738 in the prior period, while nonfatal shootings declined by 42% in 2025.
The players
Cory Mason
He serves as the Mayor of Racine and is responsible for introducing the city's annual municipal budget proposals.
Racine Police Department
This municipal agency is responsible for law enforcement operations and manages a sworn force of 196 authorized positions.
Axon
This technology company holds a multi-year agreement with the city to provide police hardware and software tools.
The details
The budget shifts two positions from traffic investigation to standard police officer roles to adjust staffing needs. The city also plans to continue its five-year technology agreement with Axon while cutting $75,000 previously earmarked for Flock camera systems.
Timeline
Annual crime data was reported for the 2025 calendar year.
A council budget review meeting is set for October 12, 2026.
A public budget hearing will take place on October 14, 2026.
Amendment deliberations are scheduled for October 19, 2026.
The final budget adoption vote occurs on October 20, 2026.
Legal Context
The proposed shift in overtime funding reflects the city's ongoing reliance on established labor agreements to manage police resources. This approach contrasts with recent internal moves to reallocate staff from specialized traffic roles to general officer duties.
Residents should anticipate that the shift of two traffic investigator positions to general officer roles may alter local traffic enforcement patterns. The department has also set a goal to reduce domestic and intimate partner violence by 10% throughout 2027.
The takeaway
The city is prioritizing increased officer availability through expanded overtime to handle a rising volume of calls for service. Budget adjustments reflect a focus on maintaining staffing levels and meeting contractual obligations over hardware investments.
What happens next
Five new recruits are scheduled to graduate in December 2026, followed by a new class of five recruits beginning their training in January 2027.
Further reading
Find more local updates on the Racine Law Enforcement page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Racine County Eye.
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