Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Commission to consider hiring more deputies in next budget

Julia M. Dendinger News-Bulletin Staff Writer; jdendinger@news-bulletin.com

The county sheriff came before the county commissioners last week to see if he could take them up on an offer to fund more certified deputies for his department.

The commissioners said they would be glad to fund additional deputies, if the money is available. At approximately $50,000 per deputy in salary and benefits, the four deputies requested by Sheriff Rene Rivera would cost the county nearly $200,000.

At the Feb. 4 commission meeting during a discussion of the salaries of the chief deputies for elected officials, Commissioner Ron Gentry asked to revisit the matter of adding three certified, street-ready deputies to the sheriff's department.

The county had identified a revenue stream for the three chief deputies, and Commissioner Georgia Otero-Kirkham felt that that same revenue source could cover the cost of three additional officers, a subject discussed by the commission and the sheriff in the past.

However, at that time, Rivera said that while three additional deputies would certainly be appreciated, he was concerned about the pay disparity between the deputies and his lieutenants, captain and undersheriff.

In August, Rivera had requested pay raises for the department's captain, three lieutenants and undersheriff - raises that were ultimately denied by the State Department of Finance Administration because of a lack of a recurring revenue stream. In May of 2008, the commission approved a union contract that included compensation based on an officer's time served in the department.

Those five positions aren't eligible for that pay because they are not union members, and Rivera said last month that if his department got three more certified officers, he would still have five officers not being paid as they should be.

At the March 18 meeting, Rivera said if the offer for more deputies were still on the table and the funding still available he would like to add four certified deputies.

Otero-Kirkham asked the county staff if the money could be found for four more deputies. "Wilma, is there any money?" she asked the county's finance director.

Wilma Abril said, "No."

Commissioner David Medina said that, instead of pushing an already tight budget even further, he would like to wait until the county's next budget planning cycle to add more officers.

"We are going into our budget hearings and planning workshops. Let's see what we are going to get from the stimulus money and federal dollars," he said. "I think it is going to be very hard to find that money."

Commission Chair Pedro Rael asked County Manager Eric Zamora if additional deputy positions had been budgeted for this fiscal year. Zamora said they had not been budgeted and added that there are no extra funds available this late in the year.

"I agree with the deputies in concept. I supported this the last time," Rael said. "I would like to do this; we need to make public safety a priority. I would like to leave this on the table until we begin working on the new budget."

Medina said his hesitation was based on a desire to keep within the county budget. "I am not against law enforcement," he said. "But I think we need to get a better idea of what our projected revenues are going to be. We have spent a lot of money lately, and I would hate to have DFA come back and say 'Valencia County, what are you doing?'"

The sheriff said the county does need law enforcement to be a priority for Valencia County. "We are growing," he said. "The department needs to grow to keep up with that."

The program the sheriff is envisioning will help the department grow with the county, he said. The sheriff's proposal for the four additional deputies would see those new officers assigned to specific regions in the county.

Primarily the areas of Meadow Lake and El Cerro Mission, Las Maravillas Subdivision, Jarales and Rio Communities would be the dedicated areas of responsibility for three of the four additional deputies with the fourth placed in Highland Meadows. Rivera's plan would also see an existing officer serve as a supervisor and be permanently placed in the El Cerro Mission substation.

Otero-Kirkham asked Rivera if a recent Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) for $99,000 could be used to pay for the new deputies. He said the funds could only be used for overtime and equipment.

The commissioner then asked Rivera about a grant through the federal stimulus package that would enable the department to hire deputies for three years. Rivera said that was different from the JAG funding.

"We are putting together the numbers for that one," he said. "We are going to ask for 10 and we're hoping for five. If we get those, we will have to take them in after the three years."

In light of the fact that the county's budget hearings are due to begin soon, Gentry made a motion to defer the request and take it up again during the budget hearings.

"I think that is the proper place for it and it would be safer there," he said. His motion passed unanimously.

After the vote, Gentry asked the sheriff to come back with a solid plan for the additional deputies.

"You are talking about placing them in specific places. I want to see a work schedule, zones and shift schedules planned out," he said. "I see you've emphasized Meadow Lake, Highland Meadows and El Cerro Mission, and that is very appropriate.

"But don't forget there is an area called southern Valencia County. There are unmanned substations in Rio Communities and Jarales, and I don't believe that is the sheriff's fault; times turned tough."

Rivera said he wanted to make use of the substations and hopefully increase his force to have five deputies on patrol per shift.

The chairman said that he didn't want to see the sheriff's hands tied in the utilization of the deputies. "We don't ask for a plan from our other elected officials," Rael said. "You're the expert, and we're willing to help you expand."

He emphasized that any plan Rivera presented to the commission was just that. "A plan is only a suggestion," Rael said. "I won't say if you don't follow the plan we won't fund you."

Rivera said he appreciated the chairman's comments. "Right now, my main concern is the public," he said. "Keeping them safe."

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