Department money woes - Page 2 - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

**Dave Starr** · 04-05-2008, 03:39 PM

There were cuts here; 2 Captains, 7 Lieutenants, and 12 Sergeants were reduced. No layoffs; patrol officers went from 181 to 204. Also, the Citizens Service Bureau was eliminated; out of 4 officers, 2 went to Community Policing, and 2 to patrol.

Jim B · 04-05-2008, 04:52 PM

Boy do I wish I could offer the silver bullet to help.....and being a former fire guy I didn't see what happened in our small city PD as far as budgeting went, but when I was younger, the larger city I grew up in had some very severe budget situations occur (city eventually declared a fiscal emergency and the state stepped in to take over the books)....they cut back on the number of patrol officers and started up what they presented as a foot patrol division. The foot patrol officers had offices which were leased space/offices of some larger professional buildings. Seems to me the city found cooperation amongst the professional community in as much as they welcomed the chance to house a mini-police outpost in their building....it was just for paperwork and such. Some of the guys ended up with bicycles....it was promoted as a means to bring the officer to a more direct role with the public at large. Where I work now the city has a small number on bikes......it's not a car, but if that was the difference between loosing wages and health insurance for the family, I'm sure they weighed it and the expenses of the car were dropped....hmmm thinking back the old city had a couple guys mounted (horseback) on horses that I think...were donated...the key was to get as much donated stuff as possible, put the officer in the public eye so the tax payer could see their dollars meeting them on the streets (the foot patrol officers were always in the paper helping with this or that)...and just keep the uniform as visible and PR oriented as possible.

I suspect the public did a lot of donating to get a 'presence' in their neighborhood, it was at a time when available patrol cars/officers were so reduced that community watches sprang up......alarm companies were doing their own alarm responses....fire departments were being closed based on number of runs per year and the apparatus stored in them, etc.

Good luck and God bless!

Laying off you guys is the WORST that a town can do!

J

HulkXD · 04-06-2008, 12:39 AM

Two million bucks, huh? Our entire budget for last year was just over $300,000. Four guys (sheriff and three deputies), five cars, and a $500 equipment budget. But no matter where you are from, population rules demand of officers, and whether you have a million people or 12 thousand, it sucks to ask for the minimum and get less. I have no words of wisdom, just my heartfelt condolences. I've been there, bro. The only other option is to pass a petition around town, get enough signatures to put a new taxing district for the PD on the voting ballot, and hope the people vote to give you your own tax. That's how it works in KY.

The Tengu · 04-06-2008, 01:13 AM

If our city could fix its budget, it could fix the department's budget.

Too bad that will never happen.

KenW. · 04-06-2008, 08:02 AM

My office just cannot seem to budget for fuel costs. Each of the last four years many of those who have take-home cars have had to leave them at the office when off-shift from October to at least January. Sometimes the County Commissioners dip into our training, equipment, or I. T. money to fill other needs. That's why I don't get a laptop or rifle in my ride. I'm lucky my vest got replaced before the money ran out.

As a detective, I've reduced my milage A LOT from what it used to be. I only fill up once a week; and thats just in case I get called out on a weekend. and now I may have to park my vehicle not because of fuel I've burnt; but because of my position.

Kentman · 04-06-2008, 05:50 PM

Well, thanks for all of the replies.

The biggest part of our problem right now is the economy. With foreclosures, and unemployment at a near-record high, there are WAY fewer tax dollars coming in there should be, and with the gas prices, even more money going out. Thus, we and all other depts. in the county got a equal cut across the board. Too bad for us, we're the largest and get hurt the most.

Not to meantion that these numbers are based on last year's figures, not including everyone's yearly raise and the every-present increase in medical premiums that the dept has to pay out.

We have done many things to reduce our money going out, such as 2 guys per unit instead of one. But while this means half the cruisers drinking gasoline and racking up maintenace miles, it also means half as many calls that can be handled at once. This obviously leads to public anger at our now ridiculous reponse time.

This all while we are working in the dark and cold because the lights get turned out and the thermostat get cranked way down in the building.

Personally, I think one of the biggest/easiest things to do is to take away all of the take home cruisers and make all of those guys/gals drive to work like the rest of us. Now I realize the benefits for the guys and the extra presense it give's us on the road, but at what cost financially? Not to meantion all the supervisors drive Expeditions (12-14 MPG?!?!) instead of cruisers.

So who knows, any more bright ideas???

04-05-2008, 04:52 PM	#12
Jim B XDTalk Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: MI Posts: 92	Boy do I wish I could offer the silver bullet to help.....and being a former fire guy I didn't see what happened in our small city PD as far as budgeting went, but when I was younger, the larger city I grew up in had some very severe budget situations occur (city eventually declared a fiscal emergency and the state stepped in to take over the books)....they cut back on the number of patrol officers and started up what they presented as a foot patrol division. The foot patrol officers had offices which were leased space/offices of some larger professional buildings. Seems to me the city found cooperation amongst the professional community in as much as they welcomed the chance to house a mini-police outpost in their building....it was just for paperwork and such. Some of the guys ended up with bicycles....it was promoted as a means to bring the officer to a more direct role with the public at large. Where I work now the city has a small number on bikes......it's not a car, but if that was the difference between loosing wages and health insurance for the family, I'm sure they weighed it and the expenses of the car were dropped....hmmm thinking back the old city had a couple guys mounted (horseback) on horses that I think...were donated...the key was to get as much donated stuff as possible, put the officer in the public eye so the tax payer could see their dollars meeting them on the streets (the foot patrol officers were always in the paper helping with this or that)...and just keep the uniform as visible and PR oriented as possible. I suspect the public did a lot of donating to get a 'presence' in their neighborhood, it was at a time when available patrol cars/officers were so reduced that community watches sprang up......alarm companies were doing their own alarm responses....fire departments were being closed based on number of runs per year and the apparatus stored in them, etc. Good luck and God bless! Laying off you guys is the WORST that a town can do! J __________________ Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point. - C.S. Lewis

04-06-2008, 12:39 AM	#13
HulkXD XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Doing Covert Ops somewhere in KY Posts: 627	Two million bucks, huh? Our entire budget for last year was just over $300,000. Four guys (sheriff and three deputies), five cars, and a $500 equipment budget. But no matter where you are from, population rules demand of officers, and whether you have a million people or 12 thousand, it sucks to ask for the minimum and get less. I have no words of wisdom, just my heartfelt condolences. I've been there, bro. The only other option is to pass a petition around town, get enough signatures to put a new taxing district for the PD on the voting ballot, and hope the people vote to give you your own tax. That's how it works in KY. __________________ You tell 'em I'm coming, and Hell's coming with me, you hear? Hell's coming with me! Shane Smash!!! What the deuce?

04-06-2008, 01:13 AM	#14
The Tengu XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 1,768	If our city could fix its budget, it could fix the department's budget. Too bad that will never happen. __________________ The militia of the United States consists of all able-bodied males at least 17 years of age and, except as provided in section 313 of title 32, under 45 years of age who are, or who have made a declaration of intention to become, citizens of the United States and of female citizens of the United States who are members of the National Guard. United States Code, Title 10, section 311, paragraph (a)

04-06-2008, 05:50 PM	#16
Kentman XDTalk Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Northeast Ohio Posts: 40	Well, thanks for all of the replies. The biggest part of our problem right now is the economy. With foreclosures, and unemployment at a near-record high, there are WAY fewer tax dollars coming in there should be, and with the gas prices, even more money going out. Thus, we and all other depts. in the county got a equal cut across the board. Too bad for us, we're the largest and get hurt the most. Not to meantion that these numbers are based on last year's figures, not including everyone's yearly raise and the every-present increase in medical premiums that the dept has to pay out. We have done many things to reduce our money going out, such as 2 guys per unit instead of one. But while this means half the cruisers drinking gasoline and racking up maintenace miles, it also means half as many calls that can be handled at once. This obviously leads to public anger at our now ridiculous reponse time. This all while we are working in the dark and cold because the lights get turned out and the thermostat get cranked way down in the building. Personally, I think one of the biggest/easiest things to do is to take away all of the take home cruisers and make all of those guys/gals drive to work like the rest of us. Now I realize the benefits for the guys and the extra presense it give's us on the road, but at what cost financially? Not to meantion all the supervisors drive Expeditions (12-14 MPG?!?!) instead of cruisers. So who knows, any more bright ideas??? __________________ XD9 Sub Compact XD9 Tactical Ruger Mark III Hunter Kel-Tec P3AT Savage Mark III NRA Member

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04-05-2008, 03:39 PM	#11
Dave Starr XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Flint, Michigan Posts: 506	There were cuts here; 2 Captains, 7 Lieutenants, and 12 Sergeants were reduced. No layoffs; patrol officers went from 181 to 204. Also, the Citizens Service Bureau was eliminated; out of 4 officers, 2 went to Community Policing, and 2 to patrol.

04-06-2008, 08:02 AM	#15
KenW. XDTalk Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 91	My office just cannot seem to budget for fuel costs. Each of the last four years many of those who have take-home cars have had to leave them at the office when off-shift from October to at least January. Sometimes the County Commissioners dip into our training, equipment, or I. T. money to fill other needs. That's why I don't get a laptop or rifle in my ride. I'm lucky my vest got replaced before the money ran out. As a detective, I've reduced my milage A LOT from what it used to be. I only fill up once a week; and thats just in case I get called out on a weekend. and now I may have to park my vehicle not because of fuel I've burnt; but because of my position.