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Recommendation to concur with City Manager’s recommendations to (1) cancel the academies for Police Recruit and Fire Recruit budgeted in FY 11, (2) utilize the budgeted amount in the Police Department to fund sworn officers above current budgeted position levels, and (3) utilize the budgeted amount in the Fire Department to fund fire station capital improvements including, but not limited to, gender accommodations. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
At the City Council Executive Session on February 1, 2011, the City Council received information and discussed the budgeted academies for the Police and Fire Departments. The academies were predicated on certain numbers of sworn personnel retiring, thereby creating vacancies that would be filled through academies. In the Police Department, the projected level of vacancies did not materialize. In fact, the Department is currently carrying 10 sworn officers above the budgeted number of positions. These officers are currently being funded through the money set aside for the academy. Given the $18.6 million General Fund deficit projected for FY 12 and the anticipated reductions necessary to address the deficit, any new officers hired in FY 11 would have a high probability of being laid off in FY 12.
In the Fire Department, we did experience close to the expected number of retirements. However, given the Department’s FY 12 budget limitations, only a small number of Firefighters could be hired without facing the prospect of being laid off in FY 12. Chief Patalano is confident the current and projected numbers of vacancies do not rise to the level of necessitating an academy at this time.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Gary J. Anderson and by Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell on March 3, 2011.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Police Department has $1,527,996 budgeted for an academy in FY 11. This amount is a “one time” budget expenditure. The funding will offset the salaries of the 10 sworn employees tha...
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