January 28, 2011 To: Finance Committee, City of Solon From: Chief Christopher Paul Viland Subject: 2011 Budget cc: Mayor Drucker, Finance Director Weber Attached fo this memorandum, please find the 2011 budget proposal for the Solon Police Department, I INTRODUCTION The Solon Police Department currently consists of forty-six (46) sworn law enforcement officers, fourteen (14) civilian dispatchers, four (4) civilian records employees, two (2) civilian clerks of court, two (2) civilian custodial employees, a full {ime animal warden, thirteen (13) corrections officers, five (5) parttime school crossing guards, and nineteen (19) part-time auxiliary police officers. Since 2010, there have been significant personnel changes within the department. One full time records clerk and one full time dispatcher position have been eliminated. Two full-time corrections supervisor positions have been eliminated along with an additional full time corrections officer position. All of these areas are now operating at minimum staffing with supplemented part-time assistance. There are current plans to replace a recently retired part-time custodial position. In the patrol ranks, the retirements of Chief Godzich and Det. Faranda, along with the recently announced unexpected retirement of Ptl. Tina Austin will put the police department below minimum staffing levels for the first time in quite a while, Hiring processes are already in place to replace these three police officers and will continue in Preparation for the expected retirement of DARE officer Pedicino in the second quarter. of the year. Another significant impact on this budget presentation is the vacant Assistant Chief position created by the retirement of Ray Titt| in 2010. The administration is currently discussing what the composition of the upper level command staff of the police department should be. That discussion could result in loss of the Assistant Chief position, replaced by a lieutenancy or sergeancy. For purposes of this budget proposal, therefore, the most expensive option has been proposed into the budget figures, that being retention of the Assistant Chief position with commensurate pay and longevity,Jail at that time. There are no plans to add staffing in 2011 to any division within the Police Department. Total manpower for sworn police officers will remain af forty-six (46) regardless of any possible reorganization that takes place, This budget also takes into consideration two capitalized expenditures in payment. First is an approximately $50,000 expenditure to become compliant with Federal Communications Commission mandated narrow-banding of radio hardware and Software. The second is an approximate $130,000 expenditure to purchase police cruiser or officer body-mount video equipment. The Police Department is in the distinct minority by not currently having the capability to video on-street stops, arrests and activity, I. SUMMARY The total Police Department budget request for 2011 ($7,860,687.20) is a fiserease from the 2010 budget of under 1%. For all intents and purposes, the total budget remains the same, Mandatory pay and benefit increases for employees, and Proposed capitalized equipment purchases have largely been off-set by reduction in staffing levels as listed above II INDIVIDUAL LINE ITEM Groups ‘The Police Pay group request represents a 2% decrease from the 2010 budgeted amount. Despite 2.5% pay increases for all employees, this group reflects a decrease due mostly to elimination of two full time positions. The Police Benefits group request reflects a 4% increase over actual 2010 expenditures. This, despite the fact that medical insurance costs have been estimated to increase by 5% according to the finance department, an expense that drives the majority of the total cost of that group. The Police Contractual Services group request reflects a 3% decrease from the 2010 budgeted amount. Utility costs drive this group. Historic averages including a small contingency were utilized to estimate these costs. The Police Supplies group request shows a 16% increase over 2010 actual expenditures. This is solely due to estimates of vehiale fuel costs provided by the Department of Energy,jhe Police Capital Outlay group request is high due to the two requested capita expenditures listed above: FCC mandated narrow-banding and police cruiser video equipment. The Corrections Pay group request reflects an 8% decrease in actual expenditures from 2010. This is due to the loss of three full time positions The Corrections Benefits group request is similarly 8% less. The Corrections Contractual Services group request reflects a slight increase over the 2010 budgeted amount. This increase comes mostly from estimated medical service costs, The Corrections Supplies group request is significantly higher than the 2010 Budgeted amount, This number is almost entirely driven by the prisoner food line item, Prisoner food is estimated at maximum meals required at maximum capacity. Based on historical averages, actual 2011 expenditures will most probably not reach that level The School Guards group request is higher and based on actual hours expected to be worked at actual pay rates of the five part-time guards. The Police Auxiliary group request reflects an increase sufficient to expand the daily contribution of the unit to police operations. The Animal Warden group request is slightly higher than 2010 budget request (8%). This is mostly due to proposed pay increase. IV. FUTURE PLANNING The Police Department is planning a full study of minimum staffing requirements and geographical distribution of workload during the 2011 calendar year. These areas have not been addressed functionally since the mid-1980's and it is hopad that review of these areas will allow for more effective and efficient utilization of police resources Further, it has become a goal of the Police Department to move towards a Paperless system. The costs of physical records and their handling may be reduced to ine level where there is an actual positive impact in the budget as long as the IT portion Of the equation remains current. The Police Department continues to monitor and extrapolate the provision of jal femices. Planning for continued operations or eventual run-down is done on a Weekly basis and the effects on future budgets are unknown at this time.