Some pertinent details on police service issue
Count on it: whenever a controversial issue arises in city politics, anonymous committees circulate misleading information, web site commenters contribute partial truths and error-ridden e-mails are forwarded throughout the community ad nauseum.
The latest example of distorted reality is the developing ruckus over City Council’s 3-2 vote Nov. 1 “to serve notice” on Brea “of termination of the police services contract” in 18 months and seek proposals for service from “surrounding agencies,” including Brea.
Unfortunately, my 500 or so weekly words aren’t enough to swat down all the phony “facts” now in circulation, so I’ll focus on pertinent details of the issue, gleaned from several reliable sources.
First, police services for the 2011-12 fiscal year will cost the city general fund $11.6 million, up from $11 million the previous year. Other funds, grants, fees and fines add $377,000 for an overall public safety cost of $11.98 million, as listed in the city budget.
According to a police-prepared comparison chart, Yorba Linda will pay $179 per resident on police services 2011-12, while Brea will pay $364 and La Habra, Placentia and Tustin, with stand-alone departments, $257, $257 and $301, respectively. Figures for Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel and Lake Forest, with sheriff contracts, are $215, $160 and $177.
Second, an independent Law Enforcement Service Study, presented at a January 2010 council meeting, explored costs of other policing options and concluded, “Generally …Yorba Linda probably would be best served by continuing its services with Brea.”
The 71-page report by Ralph Anderson & Associates put the annual cost of a stand-alone department at $13 million with an added “transitional expense” of $3.4 million for a total first-year outlay a bit above $16.4 million.
The estimated annual cost of a sheriff contract was $12 million, with the warning, “This is only a consultant projection” and “does not reflect a commitment” by that department.
However, a formal proposal presented by Sheriff Sandra Hutchens at the Nov. 1 council meeting put the price at $10.1 million and a $1.5 million start-up for $11.6 million total.
Of course, legitimate questions arise over the potential for “low-ball” estimates to win a contract and the difficulty of making “apples-to-apples” comparisons, which can lead to understandable differences of opinion regarding the best service provider.
The Anderson study didn’t cost-out an improbable pairing with Anaheim or Placentia, but opined about a Joint Powers Authority with Brea: “It is doubtful that a JPA would create any cost savings over and above the current contract…What it could do is create a different form of governance and control over…operations.”
Third, termination of the Brea contract wasn’t needed to obtain formal proposals from other agencies, as Hutchens’ 25-page pitch was dated Oct. 14 and submitted before the Nov. 1 vote.
Fourth, officers received 3 percent raises for 2011-12 and 2012-13 but began paying 2.25 percent of salary for retirement in 2011-12, jumping to 4.5 percent in 2012-13. The long-established (since 1966) Brea Police Association has endorsed candidates in past council elections, as has the firefighter union.
The latest example of distorted reality is the developing ruckus over City Council’s 3-2 vote Nov. 1 “to serve notice” on Brea “of termination of the police services contract” in 18 months and seek proposals for service from “surrounding agencies,” including Brea.
Unfortunately, my 500 or so weekly words aren’t enough to swat down all the phony “facts” now in circulation, so I’ll focus on pertinent details of the issue, gleaned from several reliable sources.
First, police services for the 2011-12 fiscal year will cost the city general fund $11.6 million, up from $11 million the previous year. Other funds, grants, fees and fines add $377,000 for an overall public safety cost of $11.98 million, as listed in the city budget.
According to a police-prepared comparison chart, Yorba Linda will pay $179 per resident on police services 2011-12, while Brea will pay $364 and La Habra, Placentia and Tustin, with stand-alone departments, $257, $257 and $301, respectively. Figures for Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel and Lake Forest, with sheriff contracts, are $215, $160 and $177.
Second, an independent Law Enforcement Service Study, presented at a January 2010 council meeting, explored costs of other policing options and concluded, “Generally …Yorba Linda probably would be best served by continuing its services with Brea.”
The 71-page report by Ralph Anderson & Associates put the annual cost of a stand-alone department at $13 million with an added “transitional expense” of $3.4 million for a total first-year outlay a bit above $16.4 million.
The estimated annual cost of a sheriff contract was $12 million, with the warning, “This is only a consultant projection” and “does not reflect a commitment” by that department.
However, a formal proposal presented by Sheriff Sandra Hutchens at the Nov. 1 council meeting put the price at $10.1 million and a $1.5 million start-up for $11.6 million total.
Of course, legitimate questions arise over the potential for “low-ball” estimates to win a contract and the difficulty of making “apples-to-apples” comparisons, which can lead to understandable differences of opinion regarding the best service provider.
The Anderson study didn’t cost-out an improbable pairing with Anaheim or Placentia, but opined about a Joint Powers Authority with Brea: “It is doubtful that a JPA would create any cost savings over and above the current contract…What it could do is create a different form of governance and control over…operations.”
Third, termination of the Brea contract wasn’t needed to obtain formal proposals from other agencies, as Hutchens’ 25-page pitch was dated Oct. 14 and submitted before the Nov. 1 vote.
Fourth, officers received 3 percent raises for 2011-12 and 2012-13 but began paying 2.25 percent of salary for retirement in 2011-12, jumping to 4.5 percent in 2012-13. The long-established (since 1966) Brea Police Association has endorsed candidates in past council elections, as has the firefighter union.
posted by Jim Drummond at 12:00 PM
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