Asheville city leaders voted to reduce funding for the police force Tuesday night.

The city council voted 5-2 in favor of reallocating and reinvesting $770,000 from the police department budget.

According to city council documents, the police department budget decreased the budget by 3% to $29,286,305.

The Associated Press reported protesters had called for city council to cut the funds in half.

Councilman Brian Haynes opposed the amount and said the decrease fell short of Black citizens’ demands.

The city manager said the cuts were ‘initial steps’ and larger ones would take time.

City council voted to move Animal Control and Noise Ordinance enforcement to the Development Services Department.

They also voted to reinvest/reallocate the following areas:

• Data Management and Transparency:
  • Additional position(s) in the Information Technology Services (ITS) department for improved Public Safety data analysis, reporting, and public access; and
  • One time payment to support a collaborative effort between city, Asheville City Schools and the Housing Authority to enhance broadband access for residents and students.

• Community Engagement and Outreach:
  • Additional position(s) in the Communications and Public Engagement (CAPE) Department to better serve communities and neighborhoods to help solve problems and address community issues in coordination with all city departments and other partners.
  • Additional position in Parks and Recreation to provide outreach to communities and neighborhoods to enhance park security, patrol and community concerns.

• Homeless Outreach
  • Additional support to outside agencies for homeless outreach to focus on the Pritchard Park area and to free up other resources to perform homeless outreach in other parts of the city.

To fund the budget, the following money is being divested, and in some cases, reassigned to other departments:

• $220,000 – four animal control positions (reassigned to DSD)
• $110,000 – one assistant to the chief position (funding reassigned to CAPE; individual moving to another position)
• $90,000 – two park warden positions (1 position reassigned to Parks and Recreation and 1 vacant)
• $300,000 – six tele-communicator positions (all currently vacant; funding being reassigned to ITS and DSD)
• $50,000 – salary savings from sworn police officer positions (resignations between July and September)

In a statement, Asheville police Chief David Zack said, “The last few months have been incredibly stressful for our community, our elected officials, and our police officers and unsworn staff. The budget uncertainty left many of our officers wondering if they would have the means to support their families. Yet these brave men and women came to work every day to keep Asheville safe. I’m proud of them all. There is still much work to be done. Uncomfortable conversations must continue; but they should not divide us. The Asheville Police Department is committed to reimagining public safety in our city. Let’s continue down the path together.”