I urge you to direct the City Manager to remove the proposed Deputy Police Chief position form the FY 23/24 budget. Rather than appropriating $192,788 to hire an unneeded Deputy Chief, allocate those funds for equipment and training that is needed. Allocate those funds to give the officers pay increases to better afford them the opportunity to live in an increasingly unaffordable community. Allocate those funds to hire a new officers who can make an impact on the streets by enforcing traffic laws and patrolling our neighborhoods. If the city believes these core needs of the department are being met, then I suggest using the $192,788 to reduce the proposed tax increases.
Commissioners,
I urge you to direct the City Manager to remove the proposed Deputy Police Chief position form the FY 23/24 budget. Rather than appropriating $192,788 to hire an unneeded Deputy Chief, allocate those funds for equipment and training that is needed. Allocate those funds to give the officers pay increases to better afford them the opportunity to live in an increasingly unaffordable community. Allocate those funds to hire a new officers who can make an impact on the streets by enforcing traffic laws and patrolling our neighborhoods. If the city believes these core needs of the department are being met, then I suggest using the $192,788 to reduce the proposed tax increases.