TITLE
Recommendation to use City Prosecutor budget savings from FY 19, increase appropriations in the General Fund by $295,525 in the City Prosecutor Department.
DISCUSSION
At the end of FY 19, the City Prosecutor Department's General Fund budget had savings of $591,050. The FY 19 savings have been reserved for use by the City Prosecutor Department, and it is now requested that a portion, $295,525, about half of the savings, be re-appropriated in FY 20 to support the City Prosecutor's Priority Access Diversion (PAD) program.
This funding is critical to efforts to reduce homelessness in Long Beach. PAD, a diversion and alternative sentencing program that connects homeless persons in Long Beach with residential mental health and substance abuse treatment, has expanded in the last year due to the continuing homeless crisis. The requested funding is needed since the City Prosecutor's Office has committed to continue the PAD program, however, there is no funding source for PAD other than CP budget savings.
This matter was reviewed and approved by Budget Analysis Officer Julissa Jose-Murray on January 13, 2020.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on January 21, 2020 to guarantee availability of funds to spend on the indicated purposes.
FISCAL IMPACT
An appropriation increase of $295,525 in the General Fund group in the City Prosecutor Department (CP) is requested. The appropriation of $295,525 will be offset by funds available generated from FY 19 year-end savings in the City Prosecutor Department's General Fund budget. This recommendation has no staffing impact beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties and is consistent with existing City Council priorities. There is no local job impact associated with this recommendation
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
DOUGLAS P. HAUBERT
CITY PROSECUTOR