I think refund also acknowledges that money has been taken away from those pillars and we need to give it back, whereas "funding" something just means giving.
It helps get the point across that other cuts have never seen the same kind of backlash that calls for defunding the police did.
"Defund/refund" is short enough to stick and communicates more than "defund the police" alone. It's a genuine improvement.
I think refund also acknowledges that money has been taken away from those pillars and we need to give it back, whereas "funding" something just means giving.
It helps get the point across that other cuts have never seen the same kind of backlash that calls for defunding the police did.