City Budget Plan Calls for Adding Full-Time Police Officer

The city’s proposed spending plan for 1997-98 includes the addition of one police officer and increasing part-time staff hours to provide supervision at recreational activities.

The proposed budget is $24 million, which includes a $16.4-million operating budget.

The operating budget shows new costs this year that include:

* Adding the full-time police officer, $70,000, which brings the Police Department’s total to 67;

* Increasing part-time staff hours for supervision at Tynes and Oberle gyms and McFadden Park, $10,000;

* Adding part-time clerical help in the finance department, $6,000.

The proposed budget includes no salary increases. Last year, city employees received a 4% pay increase.

The budget also includes about $900,000 for capital improvements and projects such as the 800-megahertz countywide emergency communications system, computerized police dispatch system and computers in patrol cars.

Revenue in the proposed budget includes $1.7 million from the city’s 4% utility tax. Also, general fund revenue shows a 16.2% increase, or about $14.8 million, some due to the one-time sale of city-owned land at the Alta Vista Country Club golf course for about $2 million.

Budget workshops will be May 20 and June 3 at 5 p.m. in the Public Works Administrative Conference Room at City Hall, 401 E. Chapman Ave. The council is expected to adopt the budget on June 17.