Heights budget would cut police officers
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A proposed $400,000 budget reduction in the Muskegon Heights police department raises the possibility of a further depletion the city’s already short-staffed department in 2009.
City Manager Natasha Henderson on Tuesday acknowledged several police officers will be laid off if the city council approves the city’s proposed 2009 budget. Henderson declined to say how many officers could lose their jobs.
The city council is scheduled to review and approve the proposed budget at their next council meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday. The meeting is open to the public.
A copy of the proposed budget is available for public review at city hall.
The police department would be the hardest hit under the proposed budget. City administrators are proposing that council earmark $1,644,918 for police services in 2009, a substantial drop from the $2,025,034 spent by the department in 2008.
The fire department’s proposed 2009 budget — $1,016,841 — is about the same as this year’s, said Henderson.
Henderson said the city will try to save money by offering less overtime for police officers and by cutting jobs.
One retiring police officer’s position won’t be filled, the city manager said. Part-time officers will likely be the first jobs cut.
According to city financial records, the average full-time Heights police officer earns approximately $40,000, plus benefits.
Henderson, who was hired earlier this summer, said it was a challenge to create a balanced budget for 2009.
“City council charged me with putting together a balanced budget,” said Henderson. “They really care about their city. But, there are some hard decisions to make.”City officials predict that the city’s expenditures in 2009 will be $6,295,988. Expected revenues are $6,300,810. The city’s 2008 budget was to spend $6.36 million, but it’s not known whether the city will finish the year within budget.
Henderson said she hopes council will support her 2009 budget recommendations at the upcoming Monday meeting.
“I’m satisfied with the budget,” said Henderson. “It’s a balanced budget that we can use to move the city forward.
According to the 2009 proposed budget, the city’s inspection department will be slashed by approximately $42,000 over what was spent in 2008. Approximately $213,000 is earmarked for the inspections department.
Approximately $175,000 is budgeted for the city manager’s office in 2009, which is about a $20,000 increase over 2008, according to the city’s financial records.
by Federico Martinez | The Muskegon Chronicle
Tuesday December 16, 2008, 11:17 PMsource: http://www.mlive.com/chronicle/news/index.ssf/2008/12/heights_budget_would_cut_polic.html
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December 18th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Like Tony Tague said, The city council for Muskegon Heights should make sure that the cuts are the last option they have. By the sounds of it, some of the city officials could take a pay cut themselves instead of increasing their own pay, while cutting the officers jobs in the Heights.
Muskegon Heights is the last city that should be getting rid of officers in this area. If anything, they need to increase their staff. Especially during this bad economic time. Bad economic times cause an increase in crime. Especially theft. This is just a terrible idea.