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For public safety leaders, summer is more than the start of hurricane season, wildfire season, and large-scale community events. It is also one of the most important planning periods of the year.
The decisions agencies make today will shape operational readiness, technology investments, and procurement priorities for years to come. As budget discussions begin and future funding opportunities take shape, now is the time to evaluate whether current capabilities align with mission requirements.
Here are five questions every public safety agency should be asking before the next budget cycle.
1. Are We Prepared for the Next Major Incident?
Every major incident exposes strengths and weaknesses in operational readiness.
Whether responding to severe weather, hurricanes, wildfires, infrastructure failures, large public events, or other emergencies, agencies often discover communications gaps during an incident rather than before it.
Consider:
- Can personnel maintain communications if traditional networks fail?
- Are field teams able to access critical information from anywhere in the operational area?
- Do command staff have reliable situational awareness during rapidly evolving events?
- Are backup communications and connectivity options available when primary systems become unavailable?
The best time to identify vulnerabilities is before they become operational challenges.
2. What Technology Investments Will Have the Greatest Operational Impact?
Budget resources are limited, making it critical to prioritize investments that directly improve mission effectiveness.
Many agencies are focusing on technologies that enhance resilience, mobility, and situational awareness, including:
- Resilient connectivity solutions
- Satellite communications capabilities
- Mobile command and incident support platforms
- Private wireless networks
- Real-Time Intelligence Center (RTIC) enhancements
- Video, mapping, and situational awareness tools
Rather than evaluating technology solely as an IT investment, agencies should consider how each solution supports operational outcomes such as response coordination, information sharing, and continuity of operations.
3. Can We Sustain What We Already Own?
Acquiring new technology is only part of the equation. Long-term success depends on the ability to maintain, support, and optimize existing investments.
Questions to consider include:
- Do we have visibility into critical assets and their status?
- Are software and firmware updates being managed consistently?
- Is cybersecurity being addressed across all connected systems?
- Do we have the support resources needed to maintain operational readiness?
- Are existing systems delivering their intended value?
A proactive sustainment strategy can extend the life of critical technology, improve reliability, and reduce unexpected costs.
4. How Quickly Could We Deploy If Funding Became Available Tomorrow?
Funding opportunities often come with tight timelines.
Agencies that have already defined requirements, established project scopes, and identified procurement pathways are better positioned to move quickly when grants or budget approvals become available.
Planning ahead can help agencies:
- Accelerate procurement timelines
- Reduce administrative burdens
- Improve project readiness
- Move from funding approval to deployment more efficiently
Programs such as Sourcewell can provide access to competitively awarded contracts that help simplify acquisition processes and support faster project execution.
5. What Are We Budgeting for in FY27 That We Should Start Planning Today?
The most successful projects rarely begin when funding is approved. They begin months earlier through planning, stakeholder alignment, and requirements development.
Common priorities agencies are evaluating for FY27 include:
- Fleet modernization initiatives
- Connectivity and network upgrades
- Emergency communications improvements
- RTIC and Emergency Operations Center (EOC) enhancements
- Disaster preparedness and continuity planning programs
Early planning allows agencies to identify requirements, evaluate solutions, build implementation roadmaps, and position projects for future funding opportunities.
Planning Today Creates Readiness Tomorrow
Budget planning is ultimately mission planning.
The agencies that invest time now to assess risks, evaluate priorities, and align procurement strategies are often the ones best positioned to respond when the next incident occurs.
Whether you're planning communications upgrades, resilient connectivity initiatives, RTIC enhancements, emergency preparedness programs, or long-term support strategies, June is the time to align operational priorities with procurement and budget planning.
As an awarded Sourcewell vendor, PEAKE helps public safety agencies streamline procurement while delivering the technology, services, and support needed to enhance mission readiness. From resilient communications and situational awareness solutions to long-term operational support, our team works alongside agencies to help turn planning priorities into deployable capabilities.