Police Force Getting Thin, Chief Says

Mayor's Budget Adds Six Officers, But Wray Says He Needs 16 By 2007.

Wednesday, October 5, 2005 Dean Mosiman

In a tough budget year with city agencies facing cuts, Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz will spare the Police Department and even add officers next year.

But Police Chief Noble Wray and the police officers union say the mayor's proposal, while appreciated, is half what's needed to meet challenges from rising gang activity and thin coverage on the city's outskirts.

Cieslewicz, unveiling budget initiatives for public safety on Tuesday, wants to add six officers to patrol duty next year. That includes four new officers, which would increase department personnel from 390 to 394, and converting two administrative positions to patrol work.

The moves would cost $272,000 for part of 2006 and $420,000 annually, Cieslewicz said.

It's the first time in three decades the city has added more than two officers using only local money, he said, noting the Bush administration has cut federal grant money for beat officers.

The Police Department appreciates four new officers, Wray stressed.

But "I believe we need eight additional officers, and we need 16 by 2007," he said, adding that doing less will impact service. "I do not take this lightly."

Cieslewicz, meanwhile, is proposing no cuts but no new personnel for the Fire Department. He declined to fund nearly $1 million in requests to upgrade firefighters to firefighter-paramedics, add an eighth ambulance, and add two clerical support positions.

Fire Chief Debra Amesqua said she's pleased to avoid cuts and that Cieslewicz remains committed to opening the city's 12th fire station in 2008.

"We understand what the budget constraints are," she said.

Cieslewicz said he's striking the right balance in his budget, which he will propose to the City Council on Oct. 11. The council will make final decisions in November.

"In a tight budget we have to make tough choices," he said. "We're doing the responsible thing here."

Due to rising costs and growth, the city must spend about $11 million more just to continue the same services next year.

But Cieslewicz is promising a modest 4.1 percent increase in tax collections for 2006. That would generate about $6 million more in taxes next year, leaving a $5.2 million shortfall.

The mayor's tax proposal reflects what the city thought its limit would be under a new state law. But under a new interpretation, the city could raise taxes up to 7.75 percent.

Cieslewicz is sticking at 4.1 percent to protect taxpayers and prove the city can hold the line on spending and taxes.

And that means a serious debate on police spending, said Ald. Tim Bruer, 14th District, the City Council's senior member. "It's no secret that public safety has always been a priority concern to the council," he said.

The need is clear, Wray said.

A special city committee recommends a ratio of 1.8 officers per 1,000 residents, and 2 per 1,000 by 2010, he said.

But to be at 1.8 per 1,000, Madison must add 16 officers by 2007, Wray said.

It's about having the officers needed to do the job, he said. The city is annexing land from the town of Madison on the fragile South Side. Gang activity and weapons offenses are increasing. The Downtown continues to draw resources from the outskirts at night.

"You've never heard us talk about this, but response times are becoming a factor now," Wray said.

Scott Favour, the police officers union president, said, "We appreciate (the mayor) is listening to us. We are appreciative of his efforts. (But) the fear within the department is, if we start falling behind the 1.8, all of a sudden we're going to be so far behind it will be darn near impossible to catch up."

The department is trying to be more efficient by having civilians assume more administrative tasks, scheduling, adjusting district boundaries and more, Wray said.

Cieslewicz is trying to keep the 1.8 per 1,000 ratio, Twigg said. But he can't cut too much elsewhere and fears a big property tax increase would inspire the state Legislature to impose a more strict tax cap, which would make it harder to spend on public safety in the long run, he said.

To help cover public safety spending, Cieslewicz is proposing new revenues. He intends to double the cost of expired parking meter tickets to $20, the same fine charged by UW-Madison and in Milwaukee, and to triple the cost of street sweeping violations to $30, the same as Milwaukee. Those increases are expected to generate $700,000, the mayor said.