ALBION — With the annual budget deadline looming, the Village Board of Trustees gathered for a special session Thursday evening to scrutinize funding for two of the municipality's key public safety departments. The meeting, held at Village Hall on East Bank Street, focused specifically on the financial plans for Animal Control and the Police Department. While the board did not take formal votes on the budgets, the session allowed trustees to question department heads and review line items before the final budget is adopted later this spring. Mayor Eileen Javier Jr. called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. Leading the review were two critical departments: Animal Control, overseen by Harry Papponetti, and the Albion Police Department, represented by Dave Mogle and Brandon Annabel. Budget season is a critical time for village residents, as the final document determines the property tax levy and fund balances for the coming year. The special meeting format allowed the board to dedicate time strictly to financial figures without the pressure of a full regular meeting agenda. The board’s attendance was nearly full, with Trustees Riley and McMurray present in the hall. Trustee Gabalski participated via telephone. Deputy Mayor Bennett was not present when the meeting began, arriving at 6:34 p.m., shortly after the budget discussions had commenced. According to the meeting minutes, the discussion centered on the upcoming fiscal needs for both departments. The Police Department and Animal Control often represent significant portions of the village's discretionary spending. The review of the Police Department budget comes at a time when many local municipalities are balancing staffing levels with rising operational costs. The board's review of Mogle and Annabel’s figures indicates a deep dive into those operational specifics. Similarly, the Animal Control budget review provides a look into how the village manages animal welfare and enforcement services. The specific dollar amounts discussed were not itemized in the released minutes. With the review complete, the board moved to adjourn the session. Trustee McMurray made the motion to adjourn, seconded by Deputy Mayor Bennett. The meeting officially closed at 7:49 p.m. The next steps in the budget process typically involve a public hearing, where residents can voice their support or concerns regarding the proposed tax levy and departmental spending before the board votes to adopt the final budget.