 As they struggled through some of the tough choices that come
with being in a cash-strapped economy, it became apparent that not
every department was going to get everything they felt they needed
in order to operate in the coming year.Each budget year, the city
does the best it can to provide the city police department with the
equipment it needs to maintain patrols. In the current budget year,
the department added a new squad car and purchased two used SUVs.
During the budget workshops Ken Greenslate, chief of police,
asked for just under $71,000 for the purchase of squad cars, $9,750
for new computers, $14,375 for radios and $5,200 for radar for the
new budget year. In addition he asked for another $9,000 for
personal equipment for officers.
When this came up in discussion, Alderwoman Melody Anderson asked
if no new vehicles were purchased in the new year, how much of the
other costs would also go away. Greenslate said the personal
equipment for officers was the only expense not related to the squad
cars.
However, he also said he felt that without the new vehicles,
there was still a need for at least some new computers for the
existing squads. He explained that the onboard computers the city
owns now are becoming obsolete. They are also aging. He indicated
that while he could do without vehicles for the next year, he felt
replacing some of the old computers was important.
Anderson explained why she was asking, saying: "I'm not picking
on your department, but we've done a really good job of keeping cars
flowing in the police department. I realize we can't compare apples
to apples with the fire department because when we replace one of
their vehicles it is huge dollars, but we have serious issues with
fire equipment, and I'm a little reluctant to drop $100,000 into
three new vehicles when we could make a down payment on a fire
truck."
In the Lincoln Fire Department one new truck was purchased in
2009. Other than that, the majority of the vehicles used for actual
firefighting are very old, and for the most part, getting to the
point of being worn out. This is evidenced in the dollars being
invested each year in repairs and maintenance of the equipment.
Anderson said that if the $100,000 requested by the police
department was forgone for this year, that money could be earmarked
as part of a down payment for new fire apparatus.
As the council talked about this, it was noted that the last
vehicle purchased for the fire department cost in excess of
$500,000. The city used money out of the general obligation bond for
a down payment and financed the balance.
If the city would approve new vehicles for the police department,
those purchases would come from the general obligation bond as
capital equipment expenses.
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When this fiscal year ends, the city will have approximately
$400,000 remaining in the bond. Previously they had discussed that
the bond is good for two more years, so the maximum they should
spend out of it in the new fiscal year would be $200,000. Buying and
equipping three squad cars would take half of that amount. On the
other hand, using the general obligation bond to make a reasonable
down payment on a new fire truck would more than likely use the
entire $200,000.
As discussions continued at the budget workshop meetings, most
seemed to agree that the police department could go one year without
new vehicles. However Alderman David Wilmert was not so sure.
He noted to the council that the department puts their vehicles
to a lot of use. "They wear out cars like we wear out socks," he
said.
Though he wasn't keen on giving up all three cars, Wilmert was
adamant that the department should still be allowed to buy new
computers for the existing cars. He told the council his feeling was
that the police department should have the newest and the best
equipment available.
He said he felt like if the department had to do without the
vehicles, they should certainly be allowed the $9,750 for the
purchase of some new computers.
At the most recent voting session of the Lincoln City Council,
the "tentative final budget" was released for the aldermen to
review. The voting session was adjourned and will resume next
Tuesday prior to the workshop meeting. Aldermen will then vote on
the budget before them.
A review of the documents shows that the city police department
will be allowed $10,000 out of the general obligation bond for
capital equipment expense. There is nothing in the bond for new
police vehicles, nor is there anything for a new fire truck.
However, instead of spending a full $200,000 out of the bond
money in the new year, the bottom line figure is only $111,750. If
this figure holds through the voting process, this could indicate
there will be money available in the 2013-14 budget year for a down
payment on a new fire truck.
[By NILA SMITH] |
