Mayor’s budget includes funding for police vehicles - News - The Times-Tribune
by admin on Nov.28, 2011, under Car insurance
Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty’s proposed 2012 $83.9 million budget not only restores six of 13 police officers laid off in August because of an October state court ruling, it includes funding to acquire new police vehicles, including a wagon, and computer servers, according to Business Administrator Ryan McGowan.
The city’s budget has $100,000 available for capital expenditures in the Police Department.
“We are in desperate need for police vehicles,” Police Chief Dan Duffy said. “We haven’t had a new vehicle since 2007.”
The current 8-year-old wagon has been out of service for a couple of months because of mechanical failure, Chief Duffy said.
Mr. Doherty said the city has traditionally leased vehicles, and he referred questions for additional details about vehicle acquisition to the Department of Public Works, which manages the program. Efforts to reach Jeff Brazil, public works director, were unsuccessful.
The addition of six police officers marks a contrast to the elimination of 29 firefighters under Mr. Doherty’s proposed 2012 budget. The mayor has said he is laying off employees and increasing taxes in the 2012 budget because of the state Supreme Court ruling on Oct. 19 that requires Scranton to pay arbitration awards to its police and firefighters.
City officials estimate the back pay required because of the court ruling will cost about $20 million, but the officials also say the cost is not finalized. Wage increases that start in 2012 and continue through 2014 are expected to cost about $5.2 million, according to city officials.
With the cut of 29 firefighters, firefighter salaries decrease from $8.3 million in 2011 to $6.6 million in the 2012 proposed budget - the overall compensation increases from $15.9 million in 2011 to $16 million in 2012 in part because of increases in longevity and health insurance.
Meanwhile, the Police Department salaries increase from $7.7 million in 2011 to $8.7 million in the 2012 proposed budget, helping to contribute to an increase in the department’s overall compensation from $14.4 million in 2011 to $16.8 million in 2012. The rest of the department’s $241,250 outlay is for operating expenses, with most, $100,000, slated for capital expenditures.
Efforts to reach Fraternal Order of Police E.B. Jermyn Lodge 2 President Detective Sgt. Bob Martin and International Association of Fire Fighters Local 60 President Dave Gervasi were unsuccessful.
That same court decision also makes it necessary for the city to re-establish a minimum staffing level per shift as stated in the most recent contract, Chief Duffy said.
“I’m happy to have those people back,” Chief Duffy said. The chief declined to provide the total minimum shift staffing level, concerned that disclosing the number could give criminals an advantage. But he did say there will be a minimum of two supervisors.
Even with the decrease in the number of personnel, Chief Duffy said officers continued to provide service and “everybody rose to the occasion.”
The return of the six police officers would bring the department’s staffing level to 140 officers, Chief Duffy said.
The Police Department has 30 patrol cars, which are used 24 hours a day, five motorcycles and 20 detective vehicles.
The chief said one of his main goals is to take care of the fleet, adding that he intends to set up a lease program to acquire at least four to five new patrol cars, and to buy a transport wagon outright.
The chief said he would prefer to use money from towing fees to purchase the wagon. He also hopes to get grants to pay for acquisition of vehicles.
There is another account that contains $4,689 from report fees for vehicles, which would have to be split between the Fire Department and Police Department, according to the chief.
The chief said he hopes to acquire the wagon, which could transport eight people, by January.
The Lackawanna County Central Booking Center mass-transports prisoners, the chief said.
“We’re making due; we’ve been OK for the most part,” he said.
Meanwhile, Chief Duffy said it is necessary for the Police Department to buy the two computer servers to maintain operations with ongoing changes in technology.
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