Earlier sheriff start could save budget cash
Determining when the Sheriff’s Department will take over Yorba Linda’s police services from Brea is the next step in what should involve sensible negotiations among the parties in order to realize savings from expenses listed in this city’s 2012-13 fiscal year budget.
If officials from the three public entities can put aside differences and agree to the sheriff assuming responsibilities before an official start date of May 3, 2013, Yorba Linda might not need to dip too deeply into reserve funds to balance the budget approved June 19.
The county contract adopted on a 3-2 City Council vote last week makes provision for an amendment that would allow earlier implementation, which Yorba Linda’s leaders would be wise to pursue, if Brea officials would agree to advance their termination date.
Yorba Linda’s budget for the fiscal year that began July 1 lists proposed expenditures for police services as $11,455,493, and, according to City Manager Steve Rudometkin’s July 17 report, the Sheriff will cost $9,329,263 for the first year of a five-year contract.
Some of these savings might be realized this fiscal year if the sheriff contract had an earlier start date. (Savings also might have accrued if council members had explored a less costly Brea tender, but they voted to “receive and file” the late-appearing appeal.)
There’s only one caveat to an earlier start date for the sheriff: the newly adopted contract doesn’t guarantee the same savings for a period that might begin before May 3 as is to be realized after May 3, since the “full costs may be greater” for any earlier time periods.
Why might Brea agree to an earlier termination? If the Brea force is depleted by officers transferring to other agencies, including the Sheriff’s Department, Brea might not have a roster large enough to handle calls in both cities as the official cut-off date draws closer.
At any rate, the issue is sure to roil this year’s campaign for three council seats, including the position to be vacated by 12-year incumbent Jim Winder, a retired Brea police captain who can’t run again, and those now held by Nancy Rikel and Mark Schwing.
Rikel, a strong supporter of Councilman John Anderson and Anderson’s support for the switch to the sheriff, is seeking a second term, and Schwing, another Anderson ally and sheriff enthusiast, is running for a fifth term.
Schwing was elected to three terms before the 1996 three-term limit law took effect, and because he took office for his third term a few days before the law’s operational date, he is eligible to serve two more four-year terms.
But whoever is elected from the Nov. 6 ballot--filing for the three positions runs through Aug. 10 at City Hall--won’t be able to overturn council’s signed contract with the county, even if the current Anderson recall effort qualifies and carries on that or a later ballot.
Future councils are bound by prior councils’ legal contracts, and contracts are not subject to referendum elections. Since the county contract has been signed, the focus should shift to obtaining police cost reductions at the earliest possible date.
If officials from the three public entities can put aside differences and agree to the sheriff assuming responsibilities before an official start date of May 3, 2013, Yorba Linda might not need to dip too deeply into reserve funds to balance the budget approved June 19.
The county contract adopted on a 3-2 City Council vote last week makes provision for an amendment that would allow earlier implementation, which Yorba Linda’s leaders would be wise to pursue, if Brea officials would agree to advance their termination date.
Yorba Linda’s budget for the fiscal year that began July 1 lists proposed expenditures for police services as $11,455,493, and, according to City Manager Steve Rudometkin’s July 17 report, the Sheriff will cost $9,329,263 for the first year of a five-year contract.
Some of these savings might be realized this fiscal year if the sheriff contract had an earlier start date. (Savings also might have accrued if council members had explored a less costly Brea tender, but they voted to “receive and file” the late-appearing appeal.)
There’s only one caveat to an earlier start date for the sheriff: the newly adopted contract doesn’t guarantee the same savings for a period that might begin before May 3 as is to be realized after May 3, since the “full costs may be greater” for any earlier time periods.
Why might Brea agree to an earlier termination? If the Brea force is depleted by officers transferring to other agencies, including the Sheriff’s Department, Brea might not have a roster large enough to handle calls in both cities as the official cut-off date draws closer.
At any rate, the issue is sure to roil this year’s campaign for three council seats, including the position to be vacated by 12-year incumbent Jim Winder, a retired Brea police captain who can’t run again, and those now held by Nancy Rikel and Mark Schwing.
Rikel, a strong supporter of Councilman John Anderson and Anderson’s support for the switch to the sheriff, is seeking a second term, and Schwing, another Anderson ally and sheriff enthusiast, is running for a fifth term.
Schwing was elected to three terms before the 1996 three-term limit law took effect, and because he took office for his third term a few days before the law’s operational date, he is eligible to serve two more four-year terms.
But whoever is elected from the Nov. 6 ballot--filing for the three positions runs through Aug. 10 at City Hall--won’t be able to overturn council’s signed contract with the county, even if the current Anderson recall effort qualifies and carries on that or a later ballot.
Future councils are bound by prior councils’ legal contracts, and contracts are not subject to referendum elections. Since the county contract has been signed, the focus should shift to obtaining police cost reductions at the earliest possible date.
posted by Jim Drummond at 12:00 AM
<< Home