West Covina's public safety costs 'unsustainable'
Dan Abendschein reports that West Covina plans to make $5 million in cuts to narrow its projected deficit to $3 million.*
What Abendschein also tells us is that West Covina spends 77 percent of its budget on public safety. Yikes. Vallejo, the northern California that is declaring bankruptcy, spent up to 75 percent of its budget on public safety.
"You could eliminate all non-public safety city hall personnel, and still not close the deficit," West Covina Finance Director Tom Bachman said.
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"Over 10 years our spending on public safety has jumped 99 percent, while non-public safety has only increased 41 percent," Bachman said. "It is hard to see a budget solution that does not involve public safety."
I doubt the city will talk about bankruptcy any time soon. After all, another big reason Vallejo is broke is because of mismanagement. For example, Vallejo's city manager was raking in $317,000. West Covina City Manager Andrew Pasmant is making about $215,000.
*This was updated after a reader pointed out an earlier typo. Thanks to the commenter that stood up for me, but it was my bad. :/
Comments
That's a very naive view. I mean, if Vallejo was spending 70-80% of it's general fund on public safety (with most going to personnel costs) that leaves only approximately 20-30% to be "mismanaged." You can make poor decisions with the 20-30% remaining, but in the end, even if you were the most fiscally wise and conservative person in the world, you're saving pennies while you're losing thousands on the public safety end.
Posted by: Anonymous | May 16, 2008 11:30 AM
I think Jennifer meant "narrow its projected $8 million deficit." Otherwise they'd have an extra $2 million left over!
Posted by: Anonymous | May 16, 2008 1:20 PM
Typically blogs are not edited after initial posting and when they are its expected that the author post edits at the end of the posting or at least make a note.
edited-projected deficit to $3 million.
Posted by: smalls | May 16, 2008 3:19 PM
I think The San Gabriel Valley Tribune has had a no bid contract with west covina for 50 years?? With a very tough budget year someone at city hall should see if West Covina could save thousands and thousands of dollars posting the cities public notice in another paper. I am not sure if the savings would be a large amount but west covina needs to find out
Posted by: San Gabriel Valley Tribune Overcharging West Covina | May 16, 2008 4:05 PM
"$5 million in cuts to narrow its projected deficit to $3 million." Notice the TO in the preceding sentence? I think anonymous who posted at 1:20 p.m. and smalls owes Ms. McLain an apology.
Posted by: Sticking Up for McLain | May 16, 2008 4:55 PM