Recently in Measure Z Category

The committe that looks at San Bernardino's use of Measure Z sales tax revenues reports to that almost all of the money collected from the measure went to the Police Department.

From July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008, the city spent more than $4.8 million in Measure Z revenues on Police expenditures. About $93,000 went to fund crime prevention efforts under the banner of Operation Phoenix.

Measure Z is a 1/4-cent sales tax that voters approved in 2006 to finance public safety. Voters also approved Measure YY, which was merely an advisory measure to show voters' intent that revenues be used to fund the Police Department as well as youth programs such as after-school activities and anti-drug education.

The data was presented to the council Monday.

Many recent commenters want info on Measure Z. Here are some numbers that Finance Director Barbara Pachon distributed to the Measure Z Oversight Committee during Wednesday night's meeting.

Measure Z is a 1/4-cent sales tax hike that San Bernardino voters approved in Nov. 2006.

Estimated Measure Z revenues in the Fiscal 2008-09 budget were $7,050,000.

The mid-year estimate, which takes into account the economic downturn, is $6,545,000. The variance is $505,000.

City officials plan to spend $8,126,500 on Measure Z programs during the fiscal year. Police get the lion's share - $7,884,300 - and Parks, Recreation and Community Services gets $242,200. (Measure Z has also been used to finance Operation Phoenix youth centers.)

The city is able to spend more than current fiscal year Measure Z revenues by drawing from a fund balance that was $1,787,343 on July 1, 2008. The balance is projected to dwindle to $205,843 by June 30,2009.

Assistant Police Chief Mitch Kimball said in a phone interview today that Measure Z has allowed SBPD to hire 34 sworn and 10 nonsworn positions. City officials had hoped to hire an additional six cops by June 30, but the recession has arrested those plans.

Kimball said that without Measure Z, the department would not have the 44 SBPD employees who were hired with Measure Z dollars.

Aside from Measure Z-funded police positions, interim City Manager Mark Weinberg's budget plan calls for the department to hold 10 positions (three detectives, two sergeants and five police officers) vacant through Fiscal 2009-10.

The Sun broke the story, and it was a doozy: Major retailers, including Wal Mart, weren't charging the Measure Z sales tax increase that voters approved in November.