City Budget: San Marino Police Department Proposed Expenses Increase

The at Wednesday’s City Council meeting.

One of the most important budget areas is that of public safety— the San Marino Police Department and the --which is expected to increase by $225,106 compared to the 2010-11 fiscal year budget.

presented the city with the following information about the police budget:

Operating expenses

Expense increases:

• Employee vacation time, time off and sick leave will be accounted for in the city budget for the first time in years. Previously, those expenses were not included since the department had a salary surplus due to the staff not being at full capacity.
• Regular Salary, employee leave cash outs: $104,000
• Comp time employee cash outs: $56,000
• Police Patrol Vehicle: $30,000
• Police Motorcycle: $22,500
• Increased fuel costs: $17,000
• Increased payment to county for parking tickets: $11,000
• AED (Automated External Defibrillator to treat cardiac arrest): $2000
• 2010/2011 PERS (Public Employees’ Retirement System) estimate increased by 5 percent. SMPD Chief Schaefer said he has no control over the PERS rate and that the change is “huge”.

Expense decreases:  

• Part time salary for reduction in cadet/Community Service Officer hours and Chief Schaefer’s salary cut: $54,000    
• Safe Routes to School: $100,000
• Employee Overtime: $6,000

Future Outlooks:

• If San Marino residents do not vote to pass the Public Safety Tax in November, it would mean:

- A loss of $1,6333,906 (30 percent) of the public safety budget

- Cuts equivalent to 10-13.9 police officers (force currently has equivalent of 27 and a quarter officers)

•  Vehicle License Fee (VLF)
• Loss of state COPS -- $146,718
• Jail booking fees

• Crime
• Radio issues
• Equipment, cars and fuel costs

Patch will continue to provide information about other city department's proposed budgets. Stay tuned for information about the San Marino Fire Department budget.