Homewood Police Budget Cut Sparks Debate | Birmingham News

Homewood’s new city manager, Cale Smith, is pushing to slash the police budget by nearly a million dollars—leading to fewer officers on patrol and the elimination of six positions—based on a Florida firm’s analysis that critics say ignores Homewood’s unique challenges. The move echoes past protest demands while neighboring cities like Mountain Brook pursue alternative crime-fighting strategies. Law enforcement experts warn the cuts could hurt response times, safety, and officer morale, especially as the city grapples with housing issues and resident support needs. Council budget hearings begin this week, with Mayor Jennifer Andress—once a police advocate—now facing tough choices. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/fea35100b57dfec4