BY ADAM ATKINSONNorth Country This Week

POTSDAM — Thanks to a grant, a criminal forfeiture and funds from a vehicle impound auction, the village police department will see an extra $50,000 pad out its budget for the current fiscal year.

The village of Potsdam board of trustees instigated several modifications to the village budget at its meeting Tuesday, Dec. 3, which effectively adds about $50,000 to the police department’s bottom line..

Thanks to a criminal case forfeiture, the Potsdam Village Police Department’s gifts and donations line was to be increased by $2,546.10. Criminal forfeitures is a term used to describe property, including money, taken by the government in connection to criminal charges.

The cash is to be allocated to the Equipment police budget line for expenditures within the 24-25 fiscal year.

The police department’s gifts and donation line will further be increased by $2,900 in funds taken in by revenues received from a vehicle impound auction. The money is to be allocated to the department’s equipment budget line for the 24-25 fiscal year.

The Potsdam police have received a Law Enforcement Tech grant which will add $45,842.40 to the department’s budget. The cash will be allocated to the books and legal inserts police budget line for the current fiscal year.

Other budget mods

The village board also approved an increase in the current fiscal year’s sale of scrap revenue line in the water fund budget by $3,725. The cash reflects funds received from the vehicle impound auction, and is to be allocated to the Water Meter Supplies water fund budget line for expenditures within the 24-25 fiscal year.

In another budget modification, the board plans to increase the current fiscal year’s estimated revenues budget line by $15,000. The increase is due to an energy research grant received by the village from New York State. The money will be allocated for expenditures in the current fiscal year.

Finally Village Treasurer Erica Russell was to be authorized by the board to modify the current fiscal year’s budget by increasing the advertising line item for books and subscriptions by $91.49.