I’m sure its no coincidence that the Mayor’s memo and the police department memo came out in the same day, but the police seem to completely ignore the mayor’s request for a 6% cut, as usual. Cuz, you know, they’re special, they get whatever they want. Which is a compromise of only 20 more officers (instead of 34) and millions more for their training facility cuz they botched the original budget.
Here’s a summary/highlights of their request with some comments from me:
The explanation for the memo to the Council. Police Chief Noble Wray says “I have decided to provide this information to you at this time based on your inquiry about our 2011 staffing needs, and also due to the fact that Mayoral Assistant Joel Plant, who has served as the Mayor’s Office liaison with our Department, has vacated his position. In addition, we have a fairly clear picture of our current staffing requirements based on our updated patrol staffing analysis, and the recently completed Etico Solutions Investigator/Detective staffing study. In the interest of full disclosure, I believe it is my responsibility to provide you with our budgetary needs so you and the members of the Common Council have the information you need to make critical budgetary decisions.”
CAPITAL BUDGET
Oooops, we didn’t plan so well for the Police Training Center. They wanted $5,890,900 in 2014, but they got $2,000,000 in 2010 for the purchase of a facility. In March of 2010 the City purchased a 30,000 square foot building, with 8,000 square feet unfinished warehouse space. Some of the money was supposed to go for remodeling. There were cost overruns and unanticipated costs. The purchase price was higher than anticipated (they don’t say how much), they didn’t plan for first quarter real estate property taxes being charged to the project, there was an insufficient water main pipe and they needed to a communications interface and internet wiring.
This is absurd, who the hell was so far off in their budgeting. This is a good example of why people who don’t know about real estate shouldn’t screw around with it. These are pretty basic costs that should have been planned for and if the building was so expensive, they shouldn’t have bought it if the price was too much, but they have NO regard for a budget,, cuz they can just come back to the council, says “safety, safety, safety” and get whatever they want because they have FEAR on their side.
What do they need now?
Money to finish the classroom. Their current crisis is that there is no classroom for the 2010 pre-service academy class. Their “current “classroom” consists of an open area located in the common area on the second floor of the structure, which is surrounded by training staff offices. This open “classroom” can barely accommodate a group of fifteen people. It is imperative that additional Capital funds are allocated to construct classroom space for the spring 2011 academy.” Also, they need an indoor range so they can “enable us to host quality trainings, train MPD policing philosophy at a regional level and also generate revenue. At this time there is no other indoor range for law enforcement or military use at the Federal, State or local level in this region. The closest indoor range is located at the Blackhawk Technical College in Janesville. The timeliness of the construction of the range is critical to it being a potential revenue source.”
Their explanation of the “need” is kind of odd. If this the explanation, why didn’t we just wait and use the “competitors” service just like the others? “The opportunity for MPD to solidify indoor range contracts with potential regional customers before they contract with other competing facilities. Completing project prior to other potential competitors. Eliminating the need for pre-service candidates to be taken to the Blackhawk Tech indoor range.” They also say that with the range they will save $37K per year. That doesn’t seem like much compared to what they are asking for.
How much do they want?
2010 $800,000 Estimated cost for funds which may be requested through a 2010 capital budget
amendment to build classrooms, bathrooms, locker rooms, HVAC, fire alarm and sprinkler system for the entire building. (NOTE: This phase is contingent upon the final architect plans for space for the 2011 pre-service academy.)2011 $2,000,000 Construct Indoor Range.
2012 $1,000,000 Complete the remodel of the balance of the warehouse space.
Think they have 15 votes for a budget amendment this year. And how much do you want to be they go over $800,000?
OPERATING BUDGET
Top priorities. “In spite of the need for additional commissioned personnel” they decided that they reall need a grant administrator and another IMAT (Information Management and Technology) position. Their grant administrator is grant funded and the money will run out. A common way they routinely get new positions on the administrative side of things.
Need for more police officers They attempted to get more police officers through a COPS grant, which they didn’t get. They wanted 20 more officers in 3 years. They did, however, get 11 overhire positions in the 2010 budget and they want to keep those officers.
Detective/Investigators Please note “the results of this study have yet to be released publicly” and they probably won’t let the council have the information until after they vote on the budget, that is also their routine strategy. They just talk about FEAR and don’t let the council have the information they need, they’ll probably get it “tomorrow”. Anyways, they want 8 Detectives and 2 Investigators for the computer forensics unit.
Oh, wait, and we want even MORE officers “In the spring of 2010 Captain Vic Wahl again analyzed the Department’s patrol staffing needs, utilizing the Etico methodology and updated 2009 data. The analysis calls for an increase of 22–38 officers to patrol in order to deliver an adequate level of service to the community.”
Oops, and we need more sergeants. Apparently, the “2010 patrol staffing analysis also calls for increasing the number of patrol sergeants by 2–6 positions.”
Compromise, we’ll only ask for 20, instead of 34 in 2011
That’s right, they want another 34 more officers total. But he’s going to limit his request to only 20, including 13 Police Officers, 4 Detectives, 1 Investigator and 2 Sergeants.
They have two options:
Option 1:
– 2010 Authorize the current eleven “over hire” positions to be added to our authorized strength.
– Spring 2011 Increase authorized strength by nine additional commissioned positions.
– 2011 Authorize four additional Detective upgrades, one additional Investigator upgrade, two additional Sergeant upgrades.Option 2:
– Spring 2011 Increase authorized strength by eight additional commissioned positions.
– Fall 2011 Increase authorized strength by twelve additional commissioned positions for fall pre-service academy.
– 2011 Four Detective upgrades, one Investigator upgrade, two Sergeant upgrades.
And, we “found” some efficiencies. They must be feeling some pressure, cuz they came up with a list of “efficiencies” that they didn’t have before, however, they don’t note how much they save on each of these and I’m guessing its not much compared to what their total budget is. I’m sure they can have plenty more efficiencies again next year. Here’s their current list:
– Staffing contingency, Total 2009 Savings: $101,856.08, Officers – $79,953.68, Sergeants – $21,902.40
– 5 shift-staffing plan maximizes staffing at peak service demand times
– Since the formation of the MPD Patrol K9 unit in 2005, Capital K9’s has provided more than $240,000 to MPD to fund the unit.
– Madison Mounted donations assist in funding the Mounted Patrol Unit, Since last year, Madison Mounted has provided more than $4,000 to assist in funding the MPD Mounted Patrol Unit
– Savings in specialized training for the Mounted Patrol Unit to provide training certification in Madison instead of other Cities. (One week / year)
– The savings for certification training are for the K9 unit (not the Mounted Unit)…this year we paid to have the trainer/certifier come to Madison and does the certification rather than send our people out of town for it. Savings of more than $1,500.
– K9 expansion – saves officer time.
– Additional use of Bike/Foot patrol reduces fuel consumption
– Cost savings from squad upgrades allowed the ability to reallocate funds to purchase a new 4X4 vehicle for the Mounted Patrol. This vehicle can also be used during in climate weather in the winter.
– Continue purchasing fuel efficient parking vehicles and continue efficiencies from 2010
– Transition of more fuel efficient operations vehicles to V-6 Chargers.
– Assistant Chiefs transitioning to more fuel efficient V-6 police vehicles.
– Six “Patrol Ready” upgrades to current fleet in 2009 / 2010 saved purchasing new vehicles – Cost savings approximately $35,000. / vehicle totaling $210,000.
– Fewer take home squads
– Fleet assignments – increase use of all vehicles with fewer leased cars
– TEST use of motorcycles results in significant fuel savings and less maintenance costs.
– Ammo adjustments from 2009 & 2010 for all personnel including SWAT & SET
– SWAT has decreased amount of team shoots reducing ammo and training time needs
– TEMS unit by donated funds except contractually personnel costs. Received $6,000 in both 2006 & 2007 to set up this team.
– Decreased SWAT by 5 people (reducing equipment, ammunition, & training), Savings – $7500
– Operational planning for special events Received $6,000 in both 2006 & 2007 to set up this team.
– Crime Analysts, data driven focus improves efficiencies of operations
– Individual purchase rifle program – Cost savings approximately $280,000.
– Net Motion/Air Cards will reduce times that squads are out of service
– Save funds through use of Net Motion (no maintenance cost for Radio IP and no longer purchasing VRM’s for cars and no more e-tokens).
– Grant acquisitions
– Sharing equipment; shredders and printers
– Problem solving efforts
– Downtown Safety Initiative money for targeted enforcement
– Use of outside agencies – partnerships
– Establish Madison Police Foundation – partnerships
– Golf outing fund raising for MPD initiatives
– Printing less (legal updates, Chief’s newsletters, surveys – now all electronic)
– Use of surplus equipment items to include by not limited to; work stations, office chairs, file cabinets, office tables)
– West PD – drainage issue (instead of gutters, rocked the drip line) Cost savings $23,000
– West PD – Planted over 600 donated plants in open areas instead of using bark
– West PD – Reduce the area needed to mow by 20%
– West PD – 4 Master Gardeners volunteer at district to plant and complete spring and fall clean up.
The politics of this are slightly amusing, but mostly maddening. I wonder what the council will do with this. My guess is the answer is “Yes, Sir.”
The full memo is here.
