WEARE, N.H. — Weare's police chief told the Board of Selectmen on Monday that he plans to use money from the department's 287(g) partnership with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to pay for tasers, a replacement cruiser and body armor, offsetting part of his proposed 2027 budget.

Presenting the police budget at the board's Nov. 2 meeting, the chief said the 287(g) money would reduce "a little bit over $68,000" in proposed increases by "about $22,000, if I recall correctly," though he cautioned that the town would have to make sure the money could be used for those purposes.

The chief said the department has already used 287(g) funds to pay for an AI translator through 2030. He said the first cruiser he would replace with the money is one that recently needed just over $3,400 in repairs, possibly in the April-to-June time frame, and that he would also look to update ballistic vests, helmets and trauma plates with the funds. The department's tasers will be obsolete in 2029, he said.

A selectman asked the chief to show the board in the future where 287(g) money could offset budget lines "so that we understand how that affects your bottom line."

The chief said he had confirmation "in writing from the source" and that any audit would come from the Government Accountability Office or the Office of Inspector General. "ICE is very clear they will not do pre-approvals," he said. "As long as it is a law enforcement purpose that can be tied into the ICE-related mission, they are good with it."

Asked whether that guidance was in writing, the chief said, "Yes, multiple times. From headquarters, which I'll be happy to share."

"I hope the auditors in the future have the same piece of paper," a selectman replied.

Another selectman noted that some budget items would be covered by 287(g) money, and the chief said that depending on how long the funding lasts, "eventually we wouldn't need it in the budget."