City mulls shifting $1M from police to anti-poverty efforts

WINSTON-SALEM, NC (Winston-Salem Journal) — Leaders in the North Carolina city of Winston-Salem say they will consider moving $1 million from its police budget to pay for more efforts against poverty.

The Winston-Salem Journal reported Monday that the discussion among city leaders follows demands across the country to cut spending for police following the death of a black man in police custody in Minneapolis.

The city has an anticipated police budget of nearly $80 million for the 2020-2021 fiscal year.

The $1 million would come from vacant police officer positions that city officials do not expect to be filled in the coming year.