Browns budget to spend stimulus on police and fire instead of Flint Citizens

Flint Interim Mayor Mike Brown Monday took the wraps off a budget proposal he hopes will wipe away millions of dollars of red ink. [1]
To wipe out a $15 million budget deficit, Brown is calling for more job cuts. [1]

Temporary Mayor Michael Brown said the layoffs could be less severe if the city's unions agree to wage and benefit concessions.[2]


Pictures and short videos of Mike Budget Presentation 4/6/09
thumb nail
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30366181@N05/sets/72157616465792004/

slide show
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30366181@N05/sets/72157616465792004/show/



In his proposed budget, two of the hardest hit departments would be police and fire.[1]
Public safety jobs make up about 65 percent of the city's budget, which is why Brown had to look at those departments to get the budget back in the black.[1]

I went to City Hall and got the Adopted Budget for 2009 to compare last years figures with the Mayors Proposed. I used the Adopted 7/15/09

-
LINE ITEM
General Government 000
FY10 MAYORS RECOMMENDED
429051.00
FY 9 ADOPTED 7/9/089
0
-LINE ITEM
CITY COUNCIL 101
FY10 MAYORS RECOMMENDED
1131339.00
FY 9 ADOPTED 7/9/089
1000291.00
-
LINE ITEM
68TH DISTRICT COURT 136
FY10 MAYORS RECOMMENDED
5899204.00
FY 9 ADOPTED 7/9/089
5480269.00
-
LINE ITEM
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR 171
FY10 MAYORS RECOMMENDED
329896.00
FY 9 ADOPTED 7/9/089
342393.00
-
LINE ITEM
CITY ADMINISTRATOR 172
FY10 MAYORS RECOMMENDED
765372.00
FY 9 ADOPTED 7/9/089
784785.00
-
LINE ITEM
LABOR RELATIONS 173
FY10 MAYORS RECOMMENDED
0
FY 9 ADOPTED 7/9/089
391858.00
-LINE ITEM
RISK BENEFITS MANAGEMENT 174
FY10 MAYORS RECOMMENDED
302553.00
FY 9 ADOPTED 7/9/089
304004.00
-
LINE ITEM
HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION 175
FY10 MAYORS RECOMMENDED
323494.00
FY 9 ADOPTED 7/9/089
224975.00
-
LINE ITEM
FINANCE DEPARTMENT 191
FY10 MAYORS RECOMMENDED
1882910.00
FY 9 ADOPTED
2037578.00


-LINE ITEM
BUDGET MANAGEMENT 212
FY10 MAYORS RECOMMENDED
96366.00
FY 9 ADOPTED 7/9/089
122863.00
-
LINE ITEM
CITY CLERK 215
FY10 MAYORS RECOMMENDED
749330.00
FY 9 ADOPTED 7/9/089
531245.00
-
LINE ITEM
INFORMATION SERVICES 228
FY10 MAYORS RECOMMENDED
0
FY 9 ADOPTED 7/9/089
279000.00
-
LINE ITEM
PURCHASING SERVICES 233
FY10 MAYORS RECOMMENDED
318418.00
FY 9 ADOPTED 7/9/089
278188.00
-
LINE ITEM
TREASURY CUSTOMER SERVICES INCOME TAX 253
FY10 MAYORS RECOMMENDED
1659029.00
FY 9 ADOPTED 7/9/089
1719076.00
-
LINE ITEM
ASSESSMENT 257
FY10 MAYORS RECOMMENDED
1446509.00
FY 9 ADOPTED 7/9/089
1510501.00
-LINE ITEM
CITY CLERK ELECTIONS 262
FY10 MAYORS RECOMMENDED
632841.00
FY 9 ADOPTED 7/9/089
477901.00
-
LINE ITEM
LEGAL DEPARTMENT 266
FY10 MAYORS RECOMMENDED
976305.00
FY 9 ADOPTED 7/9/089
1159471.00
-
LINE ITEM
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION 269
FY10 MAYORS RECOMMENDED
164936.00
FY 9 ADOPTED 7/9/089
158913.00
-
LINE ITEM
HUMAN SERVICES COMMISSION 270
FY10 MAYORS RECOMMENDED
940753.00
FY 9 ADOPTED 7/9/089
599991.00
-
LINE ITEM
OMBUDSMAN 290
FY10 MAYORS RECOMMENDED
210132.00
FY 9 ADOPTED 7/9/089
342593.00
-LINE ITEM
POLICE DEPARTMENT 301
FY10 MAYORS RECOMMENDED
23049573.00
FY 9 ADOPTED 7/9/089
24793919.00
-
LINE ITEM
EMERGENCY 911 ,325
FY10 MAYORS RECOMMENDED
2851493.00
FY 9 ADOPTED 7/9/089
2522175.00
-
LINE ITEM
FIRE DEPARTMENT 337
FY10 MAYORS RECOMMENDED
13470750.00
FY 9 ADOPTED 7/9/089
14115539.00
-
LINE ITEM
TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT 371
FY10 MAYORS RECOMMENDED
111607.00
FY 9 ADOPTED 7/9/089
171498.00
-
LINE ITEM
TRANSPORTATION STREETS 443
FY10 MAYORS RECOMMENDED
2100000.00
FY 9 ADOPTED 7/9/089
2100000.00
-LINE ITEM
COMMUN ITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 690
FY10 MAYORS RECOMMENDED
346962.00
FY 9 ADOPTED 7/9/089
481266.00
-
LINE ITEM
COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 748
FY10 MAYORS RECOMMENDED
0
FY 9 ADOPTED 7/9/089
1015145.00
-
LINE ITEM
PARKS AND RECREATIONS 751
FY10 MAYORS RECOMMENDED
2525998.00
FY 9 ADOPTED 7/9/089
3041696.00
-
LINE ITEM
FRINGE BENEFIT FUND-UNION REPS 1600/1799 , 835
FY10 MAYORS RECOMMENDED
389808.00
FY 9 ADOPTED 7/9/089
361356.00
-
LINE ITEM
EXTERNAL CONTRIBUTIONS 880
FY10 MAYORS RECOMMENDED
150,000.00
FY 9 ADOPTED 7/9/089
0
-LINE ITEM
TRANSFERS 966
FY10 MAYORS RECOMMENDED
3046633.00
FY 9 ADOPTED 7/9/089
131,389.00
-
TOTAL 101 GENERAL FUND
FY10 MAYORS RECOMMENDED
66301262.00
FY 9 ADOPTED 7/9/089
66461878.00



If council members approve Brown's proposed budget to fill the gap, 85 city jobs would get cut, mostly in public safety.[1]
"These tough decisions have to be made now," Brown said.[1]
The city must begin paying back its $14-million deficit, and the $66-million 2009-10 general fund budget includes a $2.4 million debt payment.[2]
Something does not sound right. When was the last time someone actually inspected the retirement fund. This should be looked into immediately.[Posted by Rabbidfoot at [2]

Brown's breakdown looks like this: 48 positions would be eliminated from police forces and 24 from fire crews, and the rest would come from other offices.[1]
The police department was trimmed by nearly 50 positions in 2008. Sgt. Rick Hetherington of the police sergeants union said it's going to be difficult for the residents."The citizens are the ones who are going to suffer," Hetherington said. "There's going to be slower response times."
[2]

Many council members were not pleased public safety took the brunt of the hits.[1]
"Am I willing to work with you? Yes. To do all I can. But we cannot cut the service for the people in this city," said Councilman Kerry Nelson.[1]
"I think before we get to the point before we even look at that, we need to look at streamlining administration," said Councilwoman Sandy Hill.[1]
Police and fire union leaders say their departments are already stretched thin and can't take any more cuts.[1]
"All I hear is, 'Cuts in police and fire, cuts in police and fire,'" said Keith Speer with the Flint Police Officers Union.[1]
"We can't take it. We lost 48. We already lost 48. We need those guys back, let alone cut 48 more."[1]
"We only run the department right now with six stations," said Ray Barton with the Flint Firefighters Union.[1]
"That would take us down to four stations because 24 positions we would have to shut down two stations."[1]
The interim mayor says it's too early to talk about closing fire stations.[1]
There's hope potential federal stimulus money could help the budget. A public hearing on the proposed budget will happen later this month.[1]
A final budget has to be in place by June.[1]


So let me get this straight... Lay off 48 and use stimulus money to hire back 50? What a scam! Everyone involved with this should be ashamed of themselves. That stimulus money was/is intended for the already laid off officers. I'm guessing this is how it went down: when they applied for the stimulus money, their application stated they had 48 officers laid off and this money were to be used to bring them back.. It is quite convenient and obvious that they again are to lay off another 48 officers. Now, the stimulus money will pay for officers the city CAN afford and the money that is already there will be redirected to pay for something in the administration... ie Daryl Buchanan and other left overs from the previous administration. This is the same as making a false claim with your insurance company. [Posted by 48Forgotten
At [2]
And don't count on the police officers to make concessions. They already left the laid off officers out to dry when they voted against the Teamsters. It it clear to all of us they are only concerned for their own welfare. If you don't believe me, just check response time when they back up other officers that are still working. [Posted by 48Forgotten
At [2]
A couple of years ago the MSP Troopers paid for an entire recruit class (about 100 Troops) to stay on the road when Granholm threatened lay offs. They paid for them out of their own retirement fund. That is a brotherhood and their actions proved that they cared about each other. Too bad nothing like that will ever happen at the FPD. Everyone is out for themselves and that was proven when Williamson was mayor. [Posted by 48Forgotten
At [2]

Michigan police agencies are hoping the federal stimulus package will help end a seven-year decline in their ranks. [3]
So far, the stimulus money that has flowed to the state has not translated into a lot of new officers being hired, although the money could prevent some layoffs. [3]
But many agencies are applying for the next wave of police grants, which they're more likely to use to beef up their ranks. [3]
"With the times we're facing, with the way the economy is looking, we're ecstatic to have this money coming to us," said Lt. Noel Garcia, a spokesman with the Lansing Police Department. [3]
Many departments — including Detroit, Flint and Lansing — aren't sure how the initial money will be used. They'll make those decisions in the next few weeks, along with other regional partners that share drug investigation units or task forces that could benefit from the cash. [3]
"We don't want to jump the gun," Garcia said. "We want to make sure we're using the money wisely." [3]
See [3]
http://money.aol.com/article/michigan-police-bank-on-stimulus-to/414244?icid=sphere_classic




Sources
[1]
http://abclocal.go.com/wjrt/story?section=news/local&id=6747499
[2]
http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2009/04/proposed_flint_budget_includes.html

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