If the chief throws out a number, 100, 200, 300, 400 officers needed, then the mayor is obligated to that number and the essentially the money to fund those officers. The mayor does not want to have to draw from City reserves to just add more officers. Public safety is not where he wants such a large sum of money funneled too. He has grand plans, so the chief is told to keep his mouth shut and not supply a solid number to the metro council.