At the April 13 OV Council Budget Study Session, among the items, was a discussion on the very contentious police budget.
Probably the most interesting piece of information from this discussion was the fact that Police Chief Danny Sharp, who had previously determined that 6 officers from the Community Action Team were the lowest priority, and scheduled for potential layoffs was no longer appropriate.
Subsequent to the earlier budget meeting, the chief and council members Kunisch & Gilaspie held a meeting. Chief Sharp then came up with a brand new proposal that was submitted for the first time at the Study Session The new proposal now has five police personnel to be cut back. This includes the following:
Three sworn officers (one reserve, two patrol) a dispatcher and a part time records specialist.
We have determined that Council members Garner, Carter, Abbott & Latas knew nothing of the aforementioned meeting or proposal until Mayor Loomis mentioned it in passing at the study session..
What a way to do business----keeping four council members in the dark!
One other note of importance. This new proposal offers less than 2% savings off the overall police operating budget, that is approximately 50% of the total Oro Valley operating budget.
This police proposal pales in comparison to what other department heads have offered to date, with an average savings of over 10% per department.
Additionally, the Oro Valley police department's operating budget is at 50%. This compares with other Az police departments, whose budget is at 28-30% of a municipality's overall budget.
Below are articles and videos from KVOA & KGUN who were present at the meeting.
Two points of interest.
1) Al Kunisch, pounding the table, in a loud boisterous tone said.
'Take The Six Officers Off The Table Now!" The mayor, to his credit set Kunisch straight, and let him know there was no vote, and he (Kunisch) doesn't determine how many officers are enough.
2) After the meeting, Chris Palic of the police union was quoted on air as saying: "We are confident that we can work together with our council continue to educate them and continue to come up with different ways in lieu of layoffs."
This, by the way is the same guy that is all over the airways with the union ad chastising Town Manager David Andrews and some council members including Garner & Carter.
Officer Palic ought to decide:
'Does he want to work with the council, that certainly doesn't need him to "educate them," or does he want to continue ripping them at every opportunity?
I think it's fair to say it's Palic that is offending and alienating many citizens of Oro Valley.
Read & watch the news coverage here
http://www.kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=10177939&nav=menu216_3
http://www.kvoa.com/global/video/flash/popupplayer.asp?clipId1=3649826&at1=News&vt1=v&h1=Oro+Valle
http://www.kgun9.com/Global/story.asp?S=10177943&nav=menu1456_2
