6.0. SR 08-12-2002 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Budget V/orksession August 12, 2002 Police Liaison Program The third item that needs to be discussed is the police liaison program. This issue will impact the 2003 budget. For years the DARE program and the juvenile liaison program were on the "cutting block" whenever the school budget came up for consideration. On the other hand, the city has always been interested in receiving additional funding for the services that we provide. In 1999 a five year agreement was approved by both the city and the school district for services and funding through 2004. This agreement was subject to renegotiation if conditions (state funding or student population) changed by more than 20 percent. As I understand the situation, the school district has had conversations with the Sheriff and the Sheriff is willing to provide juvenile and liaison services to the school district free of charge. This is the same offer that was extended by the Sheriff in 1999. Recently the city has been advised that unless the city provides juvenile and liaison services free of charge to the school district, then the school will end its relationship with the city police department and will utilize the sheriff's department and officers for juvenile and liaison services. The Chief of Police and Assistant Chief of Police will be in attendance at this meeting to review the situation with the City Council (Please see the attached memo from Tom Zerwas). The Chief is willing to forgo the hiring of a drug task force officer that was in the 2002 budget and his request for a truck enforcement officer that is in the 2003 preliminary budget (starting July 2003) in order to have funding available for the juvenile and liaison program so that this service can be offered to the school district free of charge. This does not mean that we will not see the request for a truck enforcement officer or a drug task force officer in the future, it simply means that these requests for additional manpower are being put off to a later date in order to free up funds to finance 100 percent of the juvenile and liaison program. Clearly, the offering of police liaison services at no charge to the school district is a difficult issue. No one disputes the benefits to the city in deterring crime, establishing good relationships with juveniles, etc., that is fostered by the liaison program, but at what price should we be providing these services. The survey, which the Assistant Chief provided to the School Board, indicated that only 1 of 26 cities provided liaison services at no charge. The fact that the sheriff will provide these services at no charge has put the city in a difficult situation. 2003 General Fund Revenues Attachments - Draft 2003 general fund revenue projections - General fund revenues "history" page