Setting the record straight about Chief Keith Goyette's statement bragging about Kinston police budget only being 10 million instead of the misinformed 15 million

Ten Million Is Too Much: Kinston Police Must Stop Relying on Taxpayers

The City of Kinston’s police department budget is $10 million—not $15 million as some have claimed. But even at $10 million, the spending is far too high for a city of fewer than 20,000 residents and a department of approximately 70 officers. That works out to more than $143,000 per officer and over $500 per resident per year.

To put that in perspective, the national average for police spending in cities of similar size is closer to $300–$400 per resident. Kinston is spending well above that benchmark, meaning taxpayers here are paying disproportionately more for policing than residents in comparable communities.

This level of spending places a heavy burden on taxpayers, who are asked to fund a department that many in the community feel has not earned their trust. Instead of continuing to funnel “mass money” from residents into a system that too often harms rather than protects, the city should aggressively pursue federal and state grants to offset costs.

The Grant Gap

Other municipalities across North Carolina and the nation routinely use programs like:

• DOJ COPS Hiring Program – covers officer salaries and benefits for three years.

• Byrne Justice Assistance Grants (JAG) – flexible funding for training, overtime, and equipment.

• Governor’s Crime Commission funds – state-administered dollars for gang prevention, technology, and officer training.

• Highway Safety Program grants – federal traffic safety funds for DUI checkpoints, radar units, and overtime.

  
  

These programs can provide hundreds of thousands—even millions—of dollars annually, reducing the reliance on local tax dollars.

Yet in recent years, Kinston PD has only secured relatively small awards:

• April 2024: $40,000 for officer training through Project Safe Neighborhoods.

• May 2023: $10,000 for a K-9 replacement from the American Kennel Club.

These are drops in the bucket compared to the $10 million taxpayers are forced to shoulder.

Why Ten Million Is Too High

• Personnel costs dominate: With raises bringing starting pay to ~$50,000, salaries, benefits, and pensions consume most of the budget. Overtime and vacancies inflate costs further.

• Fleet and equipment: Police vehicles, body cams, IT systems, and weapons are recurring capital costs. Replacement cycles may be aggressive.

• Administrative overhead: Non-sworn staff and specialized units add fixed costs that could be streamlined.

Forensic analysis shows that Kinston spends more per resident than both the national average and larger NC cities. Bigger cities spread costs across more residents, but Kinston’s smaller population means taxpayers carry a heavier burden.

A Smarter Path Forward

Instead of relying on taxpayers, Kinston should:

• Civilianize non-sworn roles (records, IT, admin) to reduce personnel costs.

• Adopt alternative response models for mental health and minor incidents, cutting overtime.

• Extend fleet replacement cycles and pursue regional maintenance contracts.

• Build a structured grant strategy to capture recurring federal and state dollars.

• Tie funding to outcomes like crime reduction, response times, and liability claims avoided, rather than incremental increases.

  
  

Conclusion

Ten million dollars is too high for a department of only 70 officers. With residents paying over $500 each per year, Kinston should not rely on taxpayers to fund excessive police budgets when external funding sources are available. Grants exist to support public safety without draining local communities, and it’s time Kinston took advantage of them.

What makes this worse is the city manager’s lack of empathy for the community. While residents are struggling with higher costs of living — from housing to groceries to utilities — the city has chosen to give raises to police officers and expand a budget that already exceeds national norms. Asking residents to shoulder this burden shows disregard for the financial realities families face every day.

Kinston must stop demanding more from its people and start demanding more from external funding sources. The path forward is clear: reduce reliance on taxpayers, pursue grants aggressively, and build a police budget that reflects both fiscal responsibility and respect for the community.

Written and inspired by: Quarla Blackwell