Volume 1 No. 20

   A
   Henry
   Quinlan
   Publication

Police Chief 's
Budget & Fundraising Advisory

Volume 1 - Number 20 January 10, 2003
		Reducing Costs Ways to Reduce Costs State Police Budget Reduced by $18 Million Ads on Cars to Save $200,000 per year Privatizing Parking Enforcement Allocating Resources False Alarms Cost $1 Million per Year Call-Ups Pay Differential Officers Called to Duty --Ineligible for Grant State Funding Temporary Income Tax to Fund - State Police State Won't Raise Taxes but Cities and Towns Will Increasing Costs Alarms Without Burglars --127,000 Reponses One Arrest New Revenues Tax Waiver --New Revenue for Police and Fire Jobs Police Seek Tax on Alcohol Police Officers to be Auctioned Donate $3.32 Each Pay Scale Union Leader Hints At Work Slowdown Bonus For Early Notification Of Intent To Leave Police, Fire… And Others Suit Brewing About Overtime Pay Workers Comp Payout Under Review Senior Staff File Suit Over Exclusion From Payraise Budget Cuts Effects of Budget Cuts in Sheriff's Department Town Facing $600,000 Deficits D.A.R.E. Program to be Changed Odds & Ends Air Freshener During the Good Times Settle Sexual Harassment Cases To Save Tax Dollars Proposal to Raise Car Fees
		It is our policy to report what other departments are doing to manage their budgetary problems so that readers can prevent problems from happening and they can learn from the experiences of others. Henry M. Quinlan Publisher Reducing Costs----- Ways to Reduce Costs King County, WA --The Sheriff in seeking to meet his next budget is planning the following budget cuts: Using smaller cars for everyone except deputies. The Sheriff drives a Dodge Stratus Reducing overtime in criminal investigations division Buying more gas at county facilities for 92cents per gallon Asking deputies to do double duty as court security if they are already at the courthouse to testify January 2003 Department Size: 610 State Police Budget Reduced by $18 Million VA --The State Police of Virginia must reduce their budget by $18 million. The department is planning on the following: reducing funding for anti--crime programs; abolishing 15 positions; trimming the advertising budget for recruitment, establishing fees for operators of state motor--vehicle inspection stations and reducing firearms training from twice to once a year. Eligible officers are allowed to retire and be rehired at 70% of their salary while they collect their pensions. January 2003 Ads on Cars to Save $200,000 per year Hinds County, MS --The Sheriff's seeks to lease 10 patrol cars for $1. per year for three years that will contain ads on them. The Sheriff will control what kinds of ads appear on the cars and will not accept ads for alcohol, cigarettes, gaming or adult entertainment. The expected saving is $200,00 per year. January 2003 Department Size: 403 Privatizing Parking Enforcement Durham, NC --The City Council signed a three year contract with a private company that will operate four downtown parking decks and 15 parking lots as well as replacing police in handling parking enforcement downtown and in neighborhoods border two universities. The arrangement is expected to save $300,000 per year. The City had been facing declining revenues from street parking. January 2003 Department Size: 467 Allocating Resources----- False Alarms Cost $1 Million per Year Oakland, CA --The City of Oakland, California is facing burglar alarm problems similar to those effecting Los Angeles and other cities as well as a growing violent crime problem. Currently Oakland does not charge for false alarms but places a home or business on the non--response list after 4 false alarms. The City is also considering a fee system but they have not roved satisfactory in other cities. The department is looking for a better way to manage its resources and reducing the $1 million cost of responding to false alarms. January 2003 Department Size: 630 Call-Ups Pay Differential IL --Many small police departments are being effected by the military call--ups and more are feared. The length of the call-ups is also causing concern among chiefs who are struggling to fill in the time holes. Departments cannot by law fill the jobs of those called to active duty and many departments are paying people who were called up the difference between the military pay and the department pay. This is causing some budget concerns. January 2003 Officers Called to Duty --Ineligible for Grant Seekonk, MA --The police department applied for a federal COPS grant program seeking $75,000 for hiring of personnel. The department had two officers called to active duty but the application was denied because military call--ups do not qualify the Town for a grant. January 2003 Department Size: 30 Top State Funding----- Temporary Income Tax to Fund - State Police Oregon --Twenty-seven years ago there were 600 patrol officers in the Oregon State Police and now there are 423 patrol officers covering many more highways and roads. If the voters of Oregon fail to pass the temporary income tax on January 28, 2003 the number of patrol officers will likely be reduced to fewer than 300. Additional programs and task forces will also be cut. The projected cost to the taxpayers is $9.50 per month. January 2003 State Won't Raise Taxes but Cities and Towns Will Boston, MA -- New Governor Mitt Romney of Massachusetts has vowed not to raise state taxes to meet the state budget but he will cut aid to cities and towns there by forcing them in many cases to raise taxes. Layoffs are being planned in many communities as the local governments seek methods to balance their budgets. January 2003 Top Increasing Costs----- Alarms Without Burglars --127,000 Reponses One Arrest Los Angeles, CA --According to a Justice Department report last year police departments responded to 38 million burglar alarms and up to 98 % were false. The costs are staggering with it being estimated to cost police agencies a total of $1.5 billion. Further they represent 10 to 25 per cent of all police calls. In Los Angeles during 2001 the city police responded to 127,00 burglar alarm calls and made one arrest. The Police Commissioner William Bratton proposed that officers stopped responding unless there was verification by the property owner or a security company. Other cities have adopted this type of plan; among them is Las Vegas, Salt Lake City and Eugene, Oregon. The Los Angeles City Council voted to take jurisdiction over the issue from the police commission that had approved the plan. It has become a highly political issue in Los Angeles. The experience in cities where the plan was adopted show a dramatic decrease in the false alarms. January 2003 Department Size: 9324 Top New Revenues----- Tax Waiver --New Revenue for Police and Fire Jobs Boston, MA --A city councilor in Boston has proposed a waiver of fines for overdue parking fines and unpaid property taxes with the proceeds to be used for saving police and fire department jobs. The city is owed $5.5 million in parking fines and $3.5 million in unpaid property taxes. Amnesty programs which typically forgive late fees, penalties, or a percentage of the debts in exchange for immediate payment within a specified window of time have been successful across the country. January 2003 Department Size: 2050 Police Seek Tax on Alcohol Santa Rosa, CA --The Santa Rosa Police lost a grant for alcohol enforcement programs. The Chief has recommended that the City impose fees as high as $1500 on businesses such as bars, restaurants and grocery stores. In the last five years the police received $100,00 from a grant to pay for alcohol education and prevention programs as well as conduct sting operations concerning selling to minors. There is strong opposition to the tax proposal and the outcome is in doubt. January 2003 Department Size: 180 Police Officers to be Auctioned Camrose, Canada --In an attempt to raise money for victims' services an auction is being organized that will place 15 members of the police department on the block. Each officer will volunteer one hour of his time to assist local business either by shoveling snow or any legitimate activity. January 2003 Donate $3.32 Each York, PA --The Mayor of York, Pennsylvania has asked each adult to donate $3.32 about the cost of a happy meal to help avert cuts in police and rescue services. Since last month the City has received $85,000. January 2003 Department Size: 112 Police Cars with Ads The police chief of Bristol Connecticut is reviewing the possibility of placing ads on police cars as a way to raise revenue. The proposal is that a company would lease police cars to the city for a dollar a year in exchange for placing ads on the vehicles. Bristol, CT December 2002 December 2002 Top Pay Scale----- Union Leader Hints At Work Slowdown Cincinnati, OH --Officers will have to make their own decisions about how proactive they'll be after the City Council's decision to reject the police supervisors' contract, police union president Roger Webster said. Webster insisted he's not advocating a work slowdown, but that he's certain some officers will respond with a "screw the city'' attitude, adding that if he were a beat cop now, he'd only go on radio runs a dispatcher sent him to and not do anything self-initiated. He said he knew those were strong words from the mouth of the leader of the police union. And Mayor Charlie Luken said any kind of work slowdown would be unacceptable. They're nearly the exact words spoken by former President Keith Fangman almost two years ago after two officers were indicted for the death in custody of Roger Owensby Jr. December 2002 Bonus For Early Notification Of Intent To Leave Chambersburg, PA --In addition to a three percent pay raise, the borough has made some other changes to their agreement that police welcomed. The borough council changed the residency requirement so that police must only live within 15 miles of police headquarter but no longer have to live in the borough. Another provision provide officers a $2,500 bonus for giving one year's notice before quitting or retiring. The provision is intended to ensure that a trained replacement is on staff when the other officer departments to help control overtime costs. January 2003 Department Size: 45 Police, Fire… And Others Harrison, AR --A tax hike referendum which many say was earmarked for pay raises for police and firefighters is going to other purposes according to critics. Instead of a seven percent hike for police, fire and low wage employees, all employees will get a five percent raise, in the latest council plan. "The four years I have been on the Council, we have been talking about salaries. The tax was for trying to bring employee pay, especially police and fire employees, up to standard," Councilmen Pat Moles said. Pat says this tax was sold for police and fire. That's not right," said Wastewater Supervisor Arnold Rogers. "I was out campaigning for it. The campaign said police and fire and others. We're the others." January 2003 Department Size: 28 Suit Brewing About Overtime Pay Coolidge, AZ --Members of the police department here are threatening to file suit against the city over unpaid overtime pay. Police representatives allege that the Coolidge Police Department has not paid time-and-a-half for the hours officers worked in excess of 40 per week, as required by Arizona state statute. Instead, the police department has paid overtime based on the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act that calculates overtime based only on hours worked in excess of 171 per 28-day period. The claim seeks all overtime pay owed, plus triple that amount in damages, 10 percent per year interest, costs and attorney fees. It also warns that "reprisals" against the officers involved will not be tolerated. January 2003 Department Size: 25 Workers Comp Payout Under Review Fresno, CA--The Fresno City Council will likely reduce workers' compensation benefits for the city's 3,620 employees. Employees injured on the job receive 85% of their base pay tax-free, which has led some workers to abuse the system, said Council Member Jerry Duncan, who proposes to reduce the benefit to the state minimum of 66.7%. If the council approves the proposal, it would affect every union, including the one that represents police officers, who are often on stress or injury leave, city officials said. January 2003 Department Size: 608 Senior Staff File Suit Over Exclusion From Payraise Dallas, TX --Eleven police commanders filed a lawsuit against the city for not including the highest-ranking sworn officers in a 5 percent pay increase received by rank-and-file officers. Bob Gorsky, the attorney for the commanders, said Mayor Laura Miller and the City Council "breached their promise to the public" by not including the top officers in the pay raise. Mr. Gorsky said the resolution is a "binding contract" for all officers, including chiefs. The raise was to go into effect on Oct. 1 only if voters did not pass a 17 percent pay hike in the May election. The referendum failed. Mayor Laura Miller said she has no doubt the courts would side with the city. January 2003 Top Budget Cuts----- Effects of Budget Cuts in Sheriff's Department King County -- WA -- County budget cuts are causing the Sheriff to eliminate or cut programs and initiatives that have been built up over the years. The Sheriff's department no longer investigates vandalism, identity theft, bad checks, gangs and prostitution. It also cut programs such as D.A.R.E. and Block Watch. The Sheriff Dave Roberts summed it up by saying "we are about to lose thirty years of progress". The future looks worse as more deficits are looming on the horizon. Some callers now to 911 are being told the next available officer will contact them and in the future citizens may have to make an appointment to file a complaint or report a crime. January 2003 Department Size: 610 Town Facing $600,000 Deficits Townsend, MA -- With the police budget being 80% payroll a 10% across the board cut would involve layoffs. The Police Chief was recently told to "prepare for the worst" as the Town wrestles with its deficit. Some of the ideas being considered: to sell timber from the Town forest; mandatory employee furloughs; shutting down Town Hall one day a week; freezing new hires; forgoing scheduled wage increases; selling town owned properties and creating a self help fund. January 2003 Department Size: 15 D.A.R.E. Program to be Changed Phoenix, AZ -- Phoenix Police Department is considering cutting their D.A.R.E. program in half after the Maricopa Sheriff's department decided to eliminate the program. January 2003 Department Size: 2600 Top Odds & Ends----- Air Freshener During the Good Times Newcomerstown, OH --The Town facing dramatic reduction in its revenues is ordering layoffs and cuts in spending. As an example of the "good times" of recent memory the Town had received a shipment of six cans of air freshener that cost $160.00 January 2003 Department Size: 7 Settle Sexual Harassment Cases To Save Tax Dollars Springfield, XX --Two officers filed sexual harassment against police officers and the Springfield, Township. The Town was determined to go to trial but was advised by the insurance lawyers to settle the claims after an arbitrator determined the Town was at fault. The Town agreed to the settle in order to save Township tax dollars. January 2003 Department Size: 10 Proposal to Raise Car Fees CA --Assembly Speaker Wesson backed by law enforcement is seeking to raise car registration fees from $55 to $170 for the average car. The money is to be earmarked for local governments. January 2003 Department Size: 10
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Police Chief's Budget & Fundraising Advisory 23 Drydock Ave. \| Boston, MA \| 02210 Tel. : 800.387.9441 Fax: 800.852.8610 email: nevgump@aol.com Copyright© 2003 Henry M. Quinlan