Morgan Hill
– Whether or not to float a tax measure to fund additional
police officers drew mixed reactions from Morgan Hill City Council
members Wednesday night who agreed to probe the issue further at a
July workshop.
Morgan Hill – Whether or not to float a tax measure to fund additional police officers drew mixed reactions from Morgan Hill City Council members Wednesday night who agreed to probe the issue further at a July workshop.
The question of putting some sort of tax to voters to hire more officers arose after the council’s Public Safety and Community Services Committee submitted a report this week urging service improvements as the city grows.
The nine-page report notes the city’s relatively low crime rate, but also concludes the city will need to make “significant” investments in its police force as the population grows from 38,000 to a projected 48,000 residents by 2020.
The report finds the department’s existing 12-hour shifts for officers – who work three or four days a week – may contribute to “burn out.” Additionally, special operations teams that could reduce crime by focusing on gang activity, for example, are understaffed.
The report also notes overtime costs continue to be a concern for the 35-officer department. The patrol division budgeted $100,000 for overtime pay but is projected to end the fiscal year June 30 with $315,000 in overtime expenditures.
After spending three months weighing these and other data supplied by the police department, the public safety committee – consisting of Councilman Larry Carr and Morgan Hill Mayor Steve Tate – concluded a tax measure is needed to help hire seven more officers by 2010 at a yearly cost of $950,000.
The committee also recommended developing a community outreach process in advance of a possible November 2008 ballot measure.
Councilwoman Marby Lee objected to the tax idea and questioned the city’s investment in recreational services, which will cost the city a projected $1.4 million this year. Lee said public safety is the city’s first priority and voters should first be asked to tax themselves on recreation programs, which she considers a luxury.
Tate noted the city spends $9.2 million annually or 52 percent of its general fund budget on the police department – a relatively high amount. He said he believes public safety is the top priority. He reiterated his belief that recreational programs at new facilities such as the Aquatics Center and the Centennial Recreation Center also increase the city’s quality of life.
The council agreed one way to save money on public safety would be to contract with the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Department and scrap the local department. But elected officials also forged a gut-level consensus that local control over law-enforcement is both socially and politically desirable in the community, regardless of the extra cost.
Unable to settle the tax question, the council voted 5-0 to table the issue for a June workshop to discuss the committee’s report more in-depth.
Other recommendations made in the report include developing crime-reducing strategies such as requiring future retail centers to hire private security forces or install surveillance cameras to deter crime.
Additionally, the committee suggests using Redevelopment Agency funds for code enforcement activities, given most of the city’s crime is concentrated in so-called “blighted” areas.
The committee also recommended the city find funds in the upcoming budget cycle to increase the number of sworn officers from 35 to 37 during the next year and also hire a part-time records specialist to handle follow-up paperwork. The two new positions would be responsible for anti-gang and youth outreach efforts as well as other crime-supression activities.
As of now, there are two additional patrol officers included in the city’s five-year financial plan tied to the development of the shopping center under construction at the northeast corner of Cochrane Road and U.S. 101. One officer is to be funded by April 1, 2008, while the second additional officer is scheduled to be funded by July 1, 2009.
Based on the committee’s recommendations, the number of sworn officers would increase from 35 to 46 during the next three to four years, an increase of 31 percent.
