MUCH HAS BEEN MADE recently of the 911 fee and the efforts to generate more revenue for our police department. While our city goes through a series of budget cuts, the police budget is taking a big hit. As the biggest recipient of dollars from our general fund, ($31 million) that's to be expected.
Opinions vary on how best to boost public safety funding, but I heard something the other day that I really feel like I need to share: in order to save a valuable Public Service Officer (PSO) position, the Police Officers Management Association recently voted to forgo raises for three months.
Now in the final year of a three-year contract, the association had deferred scheduled raises until October of this year, said Lt. Quinn Fenwick, association president. These raises were meant to put police management salaries to just the median of those in comparable agencies. The savings will bring in $70,000, enough to fund the front desk position that was scheduled to be cut.
Now I suppose somebody out there will complain and ask, "Why they are taking raises at all?" And that's a fair question. But the City Council voted to remain committed to competitive compensation for city employees. City Manager Rick Cole explained at a recent council meeting: "Competitive is average and we've consistently been behind average across the board."
The front desk position was crucial to providing good service to city residents, Fenwick said. There are currently two PSOs on duty each day; one was scheduled to be cut. "Sometimes I walk out there and there's a lobby full of people," he said. "If that position will help maintain a level of service for the public, we're glad we did it."
EVEN SO, other positions will go, Assistant Chief Skip Young said. For example, a secretarial position will go by the wayside, the PSO position for the Police Storefronts has been cut as well as the PSO who worked with the Neighborhood Watch program. Much of this dealt with crime prevention programs. "We held 22 meetings last year for the public," Lt. Ray Vance said. "A lot of that is going to stop now."
Also among the missing will be five cadet positions, one crime analyst and a CSI technician position, although some of these are just deferred hiring.
Fortunately, the City Council voted to restore the Downtown foot patrol on weekend nights. That $36,000 item will come from other funding sources, Young said.
The council will go over the final budget revisions Monday night.
Hmmm, is this the same "Skip" that posts on your blog, Marie? Now it's all starting to make sense.
No, Mongo, that is not the same Skip. Please take my word on that one. "Skip" is a pseudonym somebody else uses. This is just a coincidence.
Did I hear my name mentioned? I don't work for the police department. I doubt they'd have me. But good for the management association. Couldn't they have put the raises out a bit farther though, and saved another position?
Sorry, Skip, my bad. Marie, thanks for setting me straight.
This generous action speaks volumes to the integrity and dedication of our Ventura Police Department. I had the opportunity to work with a number of staff in VPD over the past ten years (mainly those is management) and I was continually inspired by their dedication, problem solving abilities and desire to make Ventura safe.
Cut back on the peace officers and the "nasty" element will do their thing.
I think it'z crazy that $70,000 can't be found (it doesn't sound like a lot) but budgets are budgets are budgets. That the police officers themselves volunteered not to take a raise to compensate, that speaks volumes to the quality of the men and women who staff our police force. Some mean spirited fellows might comment "yeah but it's only three months" but whether it's three months or three weeks or three years is (in my opinion) a big deal. It's their (the officers) money, they deserve it.
You know that people are going to start screaming if crime increases in Ventura, they'll shout "foul" at the PD and at that time I hope that someone will remind the nay-sayers of this testament to our police force.
Well done Ventura PD. Keep up the good work. AND THANK YOU.
Have you heard of the new reverse 911?
Will Ventura use it?
Why is it to be "expected" that the police department is the biggest recipient of the general fund......??
I can remember a few years back when Sheriff Bob Brooks shook us all down for more cash.....by closing the east county jail for no other reason than to shake more cash out of us.....
The less money the county has, the better all all of us are......unless you live off of the taxpayers,,,,,
What I meant was that since the PD has the biggest budget, it follows that it is taking the biggest hit dollar wise in terms of cuts.
How much is the sheriff's total budget being reduced from last year?? Let's compare the two complete budgets.....
Let's us have across the board cuts in property taxes....which is much more important than police raises
This blog deals primarily with issues which affect the City of Ventura. Property tax rates and the sheriff's budget would not fall under that heading. I do know that since so many houses are in foreclosure these days, they are expected to be reassessed at lower values, which would affect the amount of property tax dollars currently being collected.
re: city of ventura.....all city of ventura property taxes should be repealed, except for the amount needed to pay off bond issues....and then after they are paid off...no more bond issues should be tied to property
...if the city of ventura government can tax your property repeatedly, year-after-year, then you are owned by the city of ventura government....when the fact is the people are suppose to own the government and the government and its employees should be submissive to the people...
You're right, Andy. The City government belongs to the people, not the City Council or the City Manager.
Since wages and benefits comprise the biggest piece of the City budget, the City of Ventura needs to look at salary freezes as a way to achieve budget savings and, perhaps, a mandatory furlough for non-emergency personnel. Management should be the first ones to step up to the plate on the mandatory furlough and lead by example.
Many other cities and counties throughout the state are going this route and it makes good sense, especially since we haven't even heard what the State is going to do to local government in their budget yet.
Which department would you furlough, Mongo? What city business do you think should go undone? Planning? Public works? Community services?
As far as property taxes go, the special assessments for the City of Ventura on my bill amount to just $61.66 a year. This is for lighting, mosquito control, etc.
There are also school bond assessments from VUSD and the Community College.
The rest is Prop. 13 1% tax. For every dollar that you pay in property tax:
34% goes to the Ventura schools
20% goes to the county
17% goes to state education
16% goes to the City of Ventura
7% misc.
6% Ventura County Community College
Marie,
All of the above. They could take the 2 weeks between Christmas and New Year's off (unpaid) and shut down City Hall during this time period, thus saving money in utility costs as well.
Trust me, the public wouldn't miss some of these services being on hiatus for a couple of weeks when most people are on holiday vacation anyway.
There's nothing happening in Planning anyway right now anyway with the down economy. They're certainly not getting a lot of new building or planning permits in the door at this time.
Old news. They've already voted to recommend a winter shut-down of non-safety and maintenance operations staff and closing of city facilities all days between December 25 and January 5.
I thought you meant something further than that.
As far as planning goes, there are still plenty of little projects going through the pipeline. I have friends who are waiting on a variance so they can add onto their house.
Re; break down for property taxes.....now let'\'s have a break down of how many city of venutra officials and employees get free gas and cars to take home...which bigwigs in the city are getting housing subsidies...years back the star did a piece on the housing subsidy for the city manager
Marie,
Just to be clear, on the City Hall shutdown, does this mean employees are not being paid during this 2-week period, or are they allowed to use vacation for the time off? If it's the latter, then the savings is minimal (just saving on utilities and staff gets a little vacation).
I also mentioned a salary freeze, which they may have implemented as well, although I haven't seen anything reported on it. This means re-opening the contracts that are in place with the labor organizations and re-nogiating any increases that were guaranteed previously (as these contracts are usually multi-year).
Wow, so even though Planning is not getting anything big coming in, they're still taking a long time to process little add-on projects, huh? So much for streamlning...
I guess I don't have a problem with those who need city-owned vehicles for their jobs having them; this would include public safety personnel, etc.
The house loan to the city manager will require him to pay the city back when he sells it plus appreciation value, so the city will end up making money on it eventually. It was part of his recruitment package.
Mongo, our friends applied for their variance in May; they expect to get it in August and this includes a publicly noticed hearing to see if their neighbors object to what they are doing.
My understanding is that city employees would have the option of using accrued vacation or taking unpaid leave during the holiday shutdown. They are also implementing a mandatory 9/80 schedule.
There is also a hiring freeze, so people are currently being asked to do more. For instance, the cultural affairs manager left to take another job, so her work is being divided up among other employees. They can't replace her because of the freeze. She was a dynamo and is missed.
I'm not sure I understand your line of questioning. They have already trimmed $4 million from the budget. You are asking for more cuts?
Yes, I think the City needs to be prepared for the other shoe to drop when the State budget cuts come trickling down. As you've confirmed, the holiday shutdown does not result in signficant savings for the City if employees are being allowed to use vacation time. The only thing the City will save is some minor utility costs.
The mandatory 9/80 schedule doesn't result in significant savings either, since employees work the same number of hours per pay period. They just compress their work schedule a bit. Again, some minimal utility savings is all this will get the City.
The hiring freeze is a prudent measure, but I think, in addition, the City needs to have "no pay raises" on the table, at least until January 2010, which is when the economy, hopefully, will start to get back on track.
RE: I'm not sure I understand your line of questioning. They have already trimmed $4 million from the budget. You are asking for more cuts?
How about getting the city out of the health care business...drop it competely for city employees and save millions.....they can buy their own at blue cross if they feel they need some...where is it written the taxoyers have to provide health care for public employees?
So tell me Mr. Levinson, does your employer offer you health care benefits? Is some of the cost then passed on to the consumer of whatever it is you do?
Why would anybody take a government job at the lower than market-rate wages if there were abslutely no beefits. The city's benefits are pretty spartan at that.
RE: Why would anybody take a government job at the lower than market-rate wages if there were abslutely no beefits
Government jobs are all above market rate....I bet you could replace every public employee with someone who would do the same job for less pay and less benefits.....
Mr. Blue Cross my employer doesn't derive his funds from the end of a gun barrel as do government employers.....nobdy would fund the government if they weren't forced to
Andy,
If Ventura dropped these benefits wouldn't they have a hard time keeping their public employees including police, firefighters, planners, building inspectors, and others from leaving to other cities?
Is your proposal for all cities to not offer health benefits to their employees?
RE: If Ventura dropped these benefits wouldn't they have a hard time keeping their public employees including police, firefighters, planners, building inspectors, and others from leaving to other cities?
All cities...we can reduce pay and benefits ....and all these positions still would be filled...and while we are at it....ban public employee membership in unions....get the unions out of government...and limit government service...let everyone rotate thru governmnet service....who wants to.....and then they can go out into the private sector and make the BIG BUCKS...everyone knows the big bucks are in the private sector.....
While we're at it let's just stop all city government function altogether. We'll round up a possee and a few nooses when we need to deal with those lawbreakers. A volunteer fire department is a must! Let citizens put out their own fires. Streets? Just pave it in front of your own house. Water? Build a well in your backyard. Sewer? Build an outhouse. Take down all the traffic signals and stop signs. Sell all the parks to private owners for condos.
RE:anarchy rules
....yep...let the anrchy of city-county government roll over us and pick us clean....as they did in the city of vallejo where the police/fire salaries have bankrupted the city...average fireman earns $171,000 and police captain $300,000
see:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/2021356/Californian-city-of-Vallejo-declared-bankrupt.html
The budget is balanced here. Vallejo's public safety budget is 80% of its general fund. Here it is 50%.
Andy, do you live in Ventura or are you just on a general purpose anti-government rant?
RE: vallejo is not ventura
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I am leaving this space blank so you can write what I "should" be writing......
....are you against the the fourth of july which is a celebration of an armed revolt against legal government.....??? It was a kill or be killed situation for the signers of the declaration of indpenedence, who knew they would all hang if the revolution failed...this was serious stuff and they weren't lobbying for an increase in health care benefits or a 3% pay raise spread over three years which is typical nonsense going on in either ventura...
I agree. We need to get rid of our King George as well. Can't wait until January and he's gone.
Vote Democrat.
Well, in the mean time...until he is gone....don't let your sons and duaghters die in iraq-afghanistan for the insanity of king george.....
....but don't vote either democrat or republican, both obamez and mcainez are big time pro-illegal alien types....therfore unqualified to hold any public office...
vote Nader...this is Ralphie's year
Andy,
What is Ralph Nader's position on illegal immigrants? I am sure he doesn't support deportation of all illegals.
Ralph Nader also supports strong unions and government paid for health care.
You sound more like a Bob Barr fan.
RE: brian
Ask ralph or look it up if you really care....
...closer to home, we have a sheriff and DA in ventura county who let thousands of illegals, who are already criminals by fact of illegal entry, and probably are using someone elses' ID for employment purposes....they let them roam ventura county with impunity....and that is what we call public safety
The police, fire and teachers of ventura counmty all have strong unions working for them....are you against their unions....?
I looked it up. He doesn't agree with you on any of the issues you have expressed support for here.
Maybe you would like Bob Barr more.
http://www.ontheissues.org/Celeb/Ralph_Nader_Immigration.htm
RE: I looked it up....
...getting back to the city of ventura(and county,too).....they will both be in deep financial straits in a year or two as property taxes and sales traxes fall.....we can no longer afford endless built in raises for public employees....
Andy,
Locally public employees that get paid from the city or county include firefighters, police, building inspectors, and other clerical positions. Which do you suggest we cut first? Next?
Not sure how this discussion became about cutting benefits for police officers and firefighters, but I think that would be just about the dumbest thing we could do.
Public safety personnel deserve benefits as much, if not more so, than any of our public employees. These men and women work very hard, often under very trying circumstances, and have very physically demanding jobs. It makes perfect sense to give them good health and retirement benefits because of the risk of injury on the job and the fact that their work takes a toll on them, physically and mentally, and, therefore, they often retire well before the average clerical worker, for example.
My initial point in this discussion was that, during these tough fiscal times, we should not be giving out pay raises and we should look at other cost-saving measures, such as mandatory furlough for some public employees (certainly not for police officers and firefighters, however).
So everyones' quality of life should go down to finance the good life for cops, fire, teachers....they aren't gods, they are highly paid public employees who are there for the money and perks...they aren't good samaritans...
...anyway....as in the city of vallejo...public employee salaries with built in raises for pay and perks and underfunded pensions will bankrupt ventura and many cities and counties, school districts...it is all in the math....
I disagree, Andy. Quite the contrary. Everyone's quality of life goes up with high quality police and fire departments and teachers in our schools. You have to pay them competitive wages and good benefits to attract top quality people to these jobs.
And I disagree with you that they are only there for the money and the perks. Sure, that's part of it, but a lot of it is dedication and love of the job. I know many cops, firefighters, and teachers, and, believe me, most of them would not do anything else for a living. They love it that much and are that dedicated to helping people.
You seem to have a very cynical attitude about public service, which is unfortunate because most of these folks are there to help people like you when you are in need.
RE: You have to pay them competitive wages and good benefits to attract top quality people to these jobs
Where did you steal that old line??
The taxpayers could care less about "competitive wages and benefits" in government....and attracting "top quality people" to government.....this is standard government-union propaganda
Make all taxes voluntary and you will see how much the taxpayers care about attracting top quality people to government....
Andy,
Interesting that you accuse me of using "standard union propaganda" in my arguments. I am probably one of the most conservative, Republican, free-market, anti-union, pro-business, bloggers on either the Dennert or Lakin blogs. Can I get an "amen" to that Brian and Marie?
As such, I believe the job market/labor force (public or private) is just as economy-dependent as the rest of the business world. If you don't pay competitive wages and benefits, you will surely get what you pay for. We would have all the rejects from TSA and private security firms serving in our police departments. Do you want that? I sure don't.
RE: If you don't pay competitive wages and benefits, you will surely get what you pay for
Who said we want the best...what ever the best is?? How do we know if we have the best or worse...are teachers graded?....heck, I believe police officers files are closed to inspection....we don't know what we have....
RE: We would have all the rejects from TSA and private security firms serving in our police departments
That is a blanket disrespectful statement...what makes ventura cops better than "the rejects from TSA and private security firms "...I don't think they are any better,,,they just make a hell of a lot more money
Any, I will stand by the statement...no one would fund government if they weren't forced too....I am 100% sure of that....without the gun to their head no one would give government a dime...
Andy,
C'mon now, are you actually trying to tell me a veteran, well-trained, experienced police officer is less valuable than the people that have us take our shoes off at airports (nothing more than high paid clerks) and the security guards that patrol shopping malls and the parking lots of shopping centers? Or the ones I see sleeping in their cars at night in my own neighborhood?
Your statement about people being unwilling to pay for cops and firefighters is equally ludicrous. People pay for things they feel they are getting someone value from (or return on their investment). You can't tell me that all those folks who have had their houses saved by hard-working firefighters over the years in California aren't appreciative and willing to pay for these services. You should ask a few of them.
Flamo,
Sorry for standing back but it is fun reading you defending unions.
Thanks!
Andy,
In all of my reading ( and sometimes deleting ) of Flamo's comments I will vouch he is usually the most consistent conservative around.
Yes, our Mongo has been surprisingly cordial here lately. I will vouch for his staunch conservatism as well.
I agree with him wholeheartedly on this one. I am an unabashed supporter of our police and fire departments as well as our servicemen and women. They are putting their lives at risk every day for us. I only wish we could compensate our enlisted folks better.
Andy, Ventura's public safety personnel are making about the median salaries of other comparable agencies.
marie, the U.S. government accepts donations, sell everything you own and give it to the government.....before you ask other people to sacrifice....
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RE; mongo
Taxes aren't an investment....and I am 100% positive people would not pay taxes if they weren't forced to...
When ever you throw in the adjective phrase "hard-working" before cops or firemen...
all I see is "guilt trip".....you are trying to lay a guilt trip on someone before you increase their taxes.....
I don't know who is "hardworking or not"....and if we went by the 'hardworking" standard.....roofers would be the highest paid people on the planet....
I have no trouble with my tax money going to pay the salaries of our police officers, firefighters and soldiers. It's just money. They are sacrificing their lives to protect us all.
Your point of view is not one shared by many. But I appreciate your posts, nonetheless.
Andy,
You're actually comparing roofers to firefighters and police officers? Last time I checked, roofers weren't putting their lives on the line day in and day out. But, whatever...
Has anyone ever questioned why the City of Ventura and King Cole have been quietly assembling a database that contains all of the following?
If you are a registered voter- they have the VOTER REGISTRATION DATABASe
If you have paid water/sewer/trash in the Ciyt of Ventura - they have theWater/Sewer/Trash customer database.
If you own property - they have the County Parcel database
If you have OPTED OUT OF THE 911 FEE - you are recorded in the database
All of these databases and others have been combined into one big big brother database called my ventura access and anytime you call the City for ANYTHING - your account is pulled up and all of the above and more can be looked at BEFORE they decide to speak to you
DOES ANYONE EVER ASK WHY?????
Unfettered,
If this is true, I'd be very upset and I'm sure a lot of other residents in this town would be upset as well. Do you have any proof that this is happening? What is the source of this information.
Let me know if you have a reliable source and I will contact Kevin Clerici from The Star immediately.
I am sure all of this information is in a database somewhere. They should know who is a water/sewer customer, who is registered to vote, who has opted out of the 911 fee and who owns property. This is hardly classified information.
But I call the city all the time and ask questions and never once has somebody hesitated to talk to me. I have also called and not identified myself many times, too, on personal business. I always get my answers.
You are not required by law to identify yourself when requesting public records, either.
Marie,
I agree the City has all this information on its customers in various places, but I would hate to think there is a "citizen, or customer, database" that enables the person who answers the call at City Hall to essentially profile the caller, as "Unfettered" is intimating.
Believe me, if I find out this is true, there will be some folks over at City Hall that will be answering some questions.
I would be more upset if they were asking everyone who calls/comes to the counter for their names. The Freedom of Information Act specifically says that you do not have to identify yourself.
If you are inquiring about your water bill or something that requires you to give your name, then that is different.
As a media person of sorts, though, I always identify myself when I'm working on a story so they know who they're talking to. That's fair.
Yeah, but it sounds like the average Joe is being spied on. Sounds like the Bush-Cheney tactics are alive and well in the Ivory Tower. Pretty amazing. When we have a turnover in this next City Council election, Rick Cole best be dusting off the old resume.
And you're just the guy to do it too, Mike, er Mongo.
Whatever, Skip (last name removed)...
Aha, so it is Skip (last name removed). I thought so...
Mongo, I told you before: The person who uses the name "skip" on the blog is using a pseudonym. It is not his real name. I am not sure who you think it is, but you are incorrect.
Maybe he should reveal himself then. How 'bout it "Skip"? Naaaahhh, too big of a coward, most likely.
I'll post under my real name when you post under yours, deal, Mongo Lamo?
Hey "Skip",
Interestingly enough, Marie has no problem posting your "guess" at my real name, but deleted my guess at your's. Seems like the deck is stacked in your favor. Ball's in your court, wimp.
I would encourage both of you to quit playing the identity game. Mongo, you posted the first and last name of a person who is not a blogger here.
Maybe our hostess only corrects the record when it is wrong.
guess I struck a nerve here, you think?
The only thing you struck, "Skip", was the jackpot on hypocrisy. You are obviously a City employee, or someone with strong connections to the status quo at City Hall. You enjoy poking me in the ribs behind your phony name, which just shows how cowardly you are.
This also explains your jumping to the defense of the City every time I, or anyone, for that matter, offers any criticism. You were all over defending the 911 tax, which is proving to be more and more of a huge mistake on the part of the City as time marches on (read today's article in The Star about residents being double-charged, for example).
Mongo, residents weren't double charged. Some of the phone companies aren't able to get on board right away with those who opted out and the 911 fee may appear on bills for awhile until the phone companies straighten out their billing. They have promised to promptly refund the fee.
You're starting to sound a little whiny. You are treated much better on my blog than you are on Dennert's where you routinely dodge bullets. Grenades, actually. They try to out you every other day.
I thought you were a tough guy.
Admit it. You enjoy this banter or you wouldn't be here.
Marie,
C'mon, you're trying to save a sinking ship now. I predict the City will rescind the fee. It's starting to look uglier by the day and they're getting hammered in the press.
I stated correctly that some residents are getting charged the monthly fee after they've opted out. That's the same thing as getting double-charged in my book.
Don't get me wrong. I do enjoy the banter immensely. I just detest cowards and wimps, like "Skip" and I'm just calling him on it.
I would just ask that you be accurate with your statements, that's all. And ignore Skip.
I don't think it is likely that the fee will be rescinded. As I've stated before, I personally don't mind paying it if it will bring School Resource Officers and more police to our problem areas.
Was it badly implemented? Yes. Is everyone really mixed up about it? Yes. I've said so all along.
If it were up to me I would have sat out until I saw how Oxnard and and Port Hueneme voted on their 1/2 cent sales tax increases and then tried another vote if those passed. But this time it should be done as a general use measure which would require a 51 percent passage.
Did you know Oxnard's Chamber is supporting their measure? Ours didn't.
Marie,
Trust me, the fee will be rescinded. Maybe not with this current Council, but it will be rescinded.
I don't believe Ventura voters would approve a sales tax increase now. The economy sucks and the City Council has lost a lot of trust of its citizens, with all these fees that are getting back-doored in. It ain't in the cards.
I'm not surprised at all that the Ventura Chamber didn't support the sales tax increase either. Again, it comes down to a trust issue and the City Council has completely lost it with the business community. They are highly suspicious of this Council and probably wouldn't support them on virtually anything at this point.