The Numbers: Police and Fire Budget Cuts

Brief breakdown of proposed cuts to public safety, 2011-12 budget:

POLICE:

• Police operation layoffs: seven officers (six currently filled and one vacant)

• Layoffs would mean reduction in areas of special enforcement, events, traffic, narcotics and support services.

• One lieutenant and one temporary support position would be laid off

• Consolidate duties of police deputy chiefs.

• $870,000 in potential savings from police layoffs

FIRE:

• Fire operation layoffs: four layoffs would convert fire suppression unit to emergency response unit. Three-person engine would be converted into a two-person rescue unit.

• Utility vehicle would be converted into rescue truck

• Three captain positions would be eliminated

• Reduce minimum staffing from nine to eight, and overtime wouldn’t be required until staffing fell below eight

• Citywide safety program consolidated with fire division chiefs

• $445,000 in potential savings from fire operation layoffs

Current public safety budget issues:

• Overtime gross costs above $800,000, had huge increase from overtime in past years

If cuts aren’t made:

• Fire and police pension plans will reach 40 percent of salary per public safety individual.

• Total costs compared with base salary could exceed 50 percent by 2014.

• The city’s paid employment could reach 169.6K for firefighters and 185.3K for police by 2014

Breakdown of proposed cuts to other departments, 2011-12 budget:

• Major cross-departmental consolidation and support services: five layoffs and 10 reassigned. Consolidate support staff to backfill community development, parks and community services and police department, Redevelopment Agency and engineering staff consolidation.

• Facility security and monitoring programs would be consolidated within the city manager’s senior administrative analyst position

• $377,000 in potential savings