July 2, 2008
City proposes cuts to police, Fourth display By RICHARD ECKE Tribune Staff Writer
City budget cuts may end two police programs in schools, halt city spending for a July 4 fireworks display in 2009, and reverse the Great Falls Police Department's attempt to increase the number of uniformed officers. Those are several cuts in a tentative $96.5 million budget proposed by City Manager Greg Doyon at a City Commission work session Tuesday evening.
A public hearing on the budget will be held at 7 p.m. July 15. Final commission action on the budget may come that night or at a later meeting.
The budget will increase less than four percent over this year, costing $16.33 more annually for the owner of a house appraised for tax purposes at $100,000.
The Great Falls fireworks show will go on as planned Friday night around dusk. But if the city pulls out as sponsor as called for in cuts in the budget unveiled Tuesday, the fireworks show's future is uncertain.
City government agreed to bankroll the Independence Day fireworks during the mid-1990s after a service club had trouble raising private donations for it. Friday's fireworks will cost the city $15,000.
The Great Falls Police Department's efforts toward community policing, including two programs in the schools called Drug Abuse Resistance Education in the fifth grade and Law Related Education in high schools, may be eliminated. Also on the chopping block would be the department's participation in the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies program.
Police Chief Corky Grove said the department could try to rejoin the accreditation program in a few years if the city budget improves. Even if it drops out of the program, it still use the policies and procedures written under the program, but in a slightly altered form, he said.
The various cuts announced Tuesday were difficult, Doyon said.
"Tough decisions had to be made," he said.
Mayor Dona Stebbins said she would hate to see the DARE and LRE programs cut, adding that her children enjoyed those classes.
"This could have a very long and lasting effect on the police department," Grove said.
He added that instead of adding 2.5 sworn officer positions, as he requested, the department may end up down two officers under the tentative budget. In addition, Grove may lose another two officers to 18 months of military service, further straining resources, and, with a tight budget, trying to hire new officers to fill in could be "a very tough task," he said.
Commissioners still could alter the proposed budget, although Doyon noted the commission would need to find other places to cut if they wanted to save programs slated for elimination.
Doyon said the city was unable to provide more money to the City-County Health Department or the Great Falls Development Authority, although the city and county will begin discussing the health agency's money woes today.
He said the city also will look at pursuing a special safety levy for police and fire protection in 2009 or later. Doyon added that the police station either needs more money to repair roof leaks and bending roof girders, as well as to purchase new emergency generators, or a new building.
He also said the city has concerns about its two golf courses, noting that although golf revenues appear to be improving, they are not where they need to be. If revenues don't continue to increase, Doyon might recommend to close one of the city courses next year, he said.
Doyon also said the city pools need to come closer to breaking even. New computer software at the pools may help the city manage them better, he said.
The city's proposed budget was set to be posted on the city's Web site today at www.greatfallsmt.net. Copies also are available from the city clerk in the Civic Center, 2 Park Drive S. and at the Great Falls Public Library, 301 2nd Ave. N.