MEMORANDUM

DATE:    1/29/2004

TO:         Mike Wildgen, City Manager

CC:         Debbie Van Saun, Assistant City Manager; David Corliss, Assistant City Manager; Ed Mullins, Finance Director

FROM:   Casey Liebst, Management Analyst

RE:         Impact of Police Grants (Traffic and SRO) on 2005 Budget

In 2005, the grant period for two grants received by the Police Department in previous years, will come to an end.  The COPS grant, which provided funds for the School Resource Officers (SRO) in each Junior High School, will end on February 28, 2005, while the Bureau of Traffic Safety, KDOT grant which provides funding for the dedicated traffic unit, will end on September 30, 2005. 

Discontinuing the programs supported by these funds is a limited option.  Under the conditions of the COPS grant, the City is obligated to retain the SROs for one budget cycle following the end of the grant period, or until the end of the City’s 2006 budget year.  Following that year the officers may be reassigned, however, the schools have also come to rely on the SROs not only for the safety and security of students but for the education and training as well.

The Statement of Commitment submitted by the City to KDOT states the City “will not de-emphasize or deplete the dedicated Traffic Safety Unit” upon termination of the grant.  The officers can not be reassigned.  This program fulfills a need in the community by providing a unit dedicated to running radar and saturation patrols, performing OUI/DUI and other safety checkpoints, and responding to injury accidents and those involving commercial vehicles.  

Attached is a spreadsheet estimating the increase in costs facing the City in 2005 and 2006.  The Federal Share of the COPS grant provided almost one hundred percent (100%) of the funding for salaries and benefits only (up to $500,000).  The City funded one hundred percent (100%) of the equipment, vehicles, and other needs of the SROs.  Some additional funds were provided in the 2003 Budget for this purpose, however, no other additional funds were allocated to the Police Department to support this unit in 2004.  

The Federal Share (funds are passed through KDOT) of the Traffic Safety Grant provided eighty percent (80%) of salaries and benefits, approved commodities, equipment, and training while the City provided the remaining twenty percent (20%).  Additional equipment, including vehicles, was initially charged to the Equipment Replacement Reserve, however, the City was able to recoup eighty percent (80%) of these cost under the grant.  Again, additional funds were allocated to the Police Department to support this unit in the 2003 budget but not in 2004. 

Also attached is an estimate of the future costs associated with supporting these units following the end of the grant period.  Not allocating additional funds to support these units would mean meeting the needs of these new units while leaving other Department needs (equipment and vehicle replacement, advanced training, etc.) unmet.  An additional $27,200 annually starting in 2005 for the SROs and $48,200 for the Traffic Unit annually starting in 2006, would allow the Police Department to meet the future needs of these units without negatively impacting the rest of the  Department.