JOPLIN, MO.--- One of the Jasper County Law Enforcement Sales Tax Grant Board's topics of discussion today was a request from Missouri Southern State University Police Department.
"They are qualified with our rules to give them money and it's our decision whether or not to give it to them," states Jim Woestman, L.E.S.T. Board Chairman.
The MSSU Police Department is seeking first time funding for new patrol cars and uniforms from the Jasper County Law Enforcement Sales Tax Grant Board.
"Our vehicles are getting pretty worn out so it would certainly be a big boost to have newer used vehicles," states Ken Kennedy, MSSU Police Chief.
Earlier this month, the board put off a decision on the matter and asked the department to submit their budget.
"Our board did not accept the budget. It's an expense report and not a budget. There's a big difference in that," says Woestman.
The MSSU Police Chief Ken Kennedy says he believes some board members expected a document similar to a city budget, but that his paperwork won't have the same format.
"Our department is budgeted with operational money, so we take that operational money and purchase what is needed," says Chief Kennedy.
The board's other concern is that the department is funded by the state. "It has been brought to our attention that their money really comes from the state and not from the county. Even though they are the same taxpayers, it's coming out of different pockets," says Woestman.
Kennedy says across Missouri, state budget cuts are shrinking revenue for university police departments.
"They have similar budgets because there just isn't that funding available. So they've had to wait for many purchases for vehicles and those kinds of things," says Kennedy.
The board once again postponed any action in order to further look into the issue.
"We want to find out a little more why aren't they getting enough money from the state," says Woestman.
The board will meet again on April 9th. One of the topics they will vote on is whether to accept MSSU as an organization to receive their funding.
"They are qualified with our rules to give them money and it's our decision whether or not to give it to them," states Jim Woestman, L.E.S.T. Board Chairman.
The MSSU Police Department is seeking first time funding for new patrol cars and uniforms from the Jasper County Law Enforcement Sales Tax Grant Board.
"Our vehicles are getting pretty worn out so it would certainly be a big boost to have newer used vehicles," states Ken Kennedy, MSSU Police Chief.
Earlier this month, the board put off a decision on the matter and asked the department to submit their budget.
"Our board did not accept the budget. It's an expense report and not a budget. There's a big difference in that," says Woestman.
The MSSU Police Chief Ken Kennedy says he believes some board members expected a document similar to a city budget, but that his paperwork won't have the same format.
"Our department is budgeted with operational money, so we take that operational money and purchase what is needed," says Chief Kennedy.
The board's other concern is that the department is funded by the state. "It has been brought to our attention that their money really comes from the state and not from the county. Even though they are the same taxpayers, it's coming out of different pockets," says Woestman.
Kennedy says across Missouri, state budget cuts are shrinking revenue for university police departments.
"They have similar budgets because there just isn't that funding available. So they've had to wait for many purchases for vehicles and those kinds of things," says Kennedy.
The board once again postponed any action in order to further look into the issue.
"We want to find out a little more why aren't they getting enough money from the state," says Woestman.
The board will meet again on April 9th. One of the topics they will vote on is whether to accept MSSU as an organization to receive their funding.
