FY13 Budget Process
UPDATED AUGUST 28, 2012
THE BUDGET PROCESS
The City of Long Beach has a fiscal year that runs from October 1st to September 30. The FY13 budget process began in January 2012 with a series of Budget Oversight Committee (BOC) meetings. The BOC consists of three City Council members and they receive information from the City Manager's office. By the end of May, each city department is required to give their budget proposals for the next fiscal year to the City Manager. The City Manager makes changes that he deems necessary and then submits his budget proposal to the Mayor by the first week of July. The Mayor makes his suggestions and changes for the next several weeks, and he must submit his proposed budget to the City Council before the first week of August. When the Mayor announces his budget, it is the first time the public and the City Council get a full accounting of the upcoming expenditures and cuts. This typically begins a very heated process of vetting out the budget; however, the City Council must adopt a balanced budget no later than the middle of September. The Mayor has five days after the budget is adopted to exercise a line-item veto on any expenditure, and the City Council has the authority to override the Mayor's veto. The final budget takes effect at 0001 hours on October 1st.
SIGNFICANT EVENTS
On January 31, 2012, the Long Beach City Council's Public Safety Committee met for the first time since November 10, 2010, to discuss the need for a new police academy. The three-person committee eventually voted 2-1 to delay any immediate recommendation for an academy to the full City Council. Instead, the committee elected to direct the City Manager to return to them in a month with a report on the budget and recommendations on how to fund future academies in outlaying years. The vote essentially killed any chance for a police academy to begin in October 2012 and virtually assured the department of having staffing numbers approaching 750 within the next two years. The web news service LBReport.com published a series of stories about the vote. Click on the links below to read/view the stories:
DEPARTMENT CHANGES
Elimination of the lease at 11 Golden Shore
Elimination of the lease at the former North PAL facility at 2311 South Street
Merge South and West Division into one new combined division.
(40) SWORN POSITIONS ELIMINATED
(1) South Division Commander position
(1) South Division Admin Officer position
(5) South Division Directed Enforcement Team
(2) Gang Detail Sergeant positions
(20) Gang Detail detective positions
(2) Homicide detective positions
(1) Vice Sergeant (the Warrant Detail position)
(2) Vice Detective positions (Warrant Detail positions)
(3) AOTC officer positions
(2) Violent Predator Unit positions
(1) Sergeant from the Support Admin, Prisoner Transport, Business Desk
(32) CIVILIAN POSITIONS ELIMINATED
Employee Services Office:
(1) Department Psychologist
(1) Clerk Typist
Other Clerk Typist positions:
(1) South Division Clerk Typist
(1) AOTC Clerk Typist
(3) Bureau Offices (reduction to one in each Bureau)
Police Service Specialist (PSS) positions:
(1) Vice Detail (Warrant Unit)
(1) Gang Detail
(1) Burglary Detail
(1) Sex Crimes Detail
(1) Crime Lab
(1) Domestic Violence Detail
(1) Violent Crimes Detail
(1) West Division Crime Analyst
(1) East Division Crime Analyst
(5) Each Patrol Division’s PSS
Admin Analyst positions:
(2) Bureau Budget Analyst position (staff reduced from 4 to 2)
Support Admin/Prisoner Transport/Business Desk:
(4) Special Services Officers
(5) Police Service Specialists
On July 22, 2012, the Press-Telegram newspaper printed its first article of the budget cycle listing the specific proposed cuts to the Police Department. The Chief-of-Police is quoted as saying, "We no longer have the numbers to continue working in the same capacity as we have in the past," and LBPOA President Steve James reminds readers of the inherent dangers of the City's 'proportional share' model of budgeting. Both leaders stress the importance of starting a police academy in order to keep police staffing from dropping below 760 officers (we are currently hovering around 805).
CITY OF LONG BEACH BUDGET DOCUMENTS:
Without any prior notice, The City Manager announced that he had some new information. He explained that the City had found $2.7 million dollars in new money for the budget. This is not one-time money. This is on-going new revenue that can be added to on-going expenses. He found the money by doing the following:
After great discussion, the City Council referred the matter back to the Budget Oversight Committee for review. The committee will come up with a list of recommended expenditures that they will then present to the entire Council for review on Tuesday, September 4.
THE BUDGET PROCESS
The City of Long Beach has a fiscal year that runs from October 1st to September 30. The FY13 budget process began in January 2012 with a series of Budget Oversight Committee (BOC) meetings. The BOC consists of three City Council members and they receive information from the City Manager's office. By the end of May, each city department is required to give their budget proposals for the next fiscal year to the City Manager. The City Manager makes changes that he deems necessary and then submits his budget proposal to the Mayor by the first week of July. The Mayor makes his suggestions and changes for the next several weeks, and he must submit his proposed budget to the City Council before the first week of August. When the Mayor announces his budget, it is the first time the public and the City Council get a full accounting of the upcoming expenditures and cuts. This typically begins a very heated process of vetting out the budget; however, the City Council must adopt a balanced budget no later than the middle of September. The Mayor has five days after the budget is adopted to exercise a line-item veto on any expenditure, and the City Council has the authority to override the Mayor's veto. The final budget takes effect at 0001 hours on October 1st.
SIGNFICANT EVENTS
On January 31, 2012, the Long Beach City Council's Public Safety Committee met for the first time since November 10, 2010, to discuss the need for a new police academy. The three-person committee eventually voted 2-1 to delay any immediate recommendation for an academy to the full City Council. Instead, the committee elected to direct the City Manager to return to them in a month with a report on the budget and recommendations on how to fund future academies in outlaying years. The vote essentially killed any chance for a police academy to begin in October 2012 and virtually assured the department of having staffing numbers approaching 750 within the next two years. The web news service LBReport.com published a series of stories about the vote. Click on the links below to read/view the stories:
- LBPD PRESENTATION TO PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE ON 1/31/12
- THE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING (STORY AND VIDEO)
- RESPONSE BY COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN ROBERT GARCIA
- RESPONSE BY COMMITTEE VICE-CHAIR GERRIE SCHIPSKE (DISSENTING VOTE)
- (02/22/12) LBREPORT.COM EDITORIAL ON THE BUDGET AND A POLICE ACADEMY
- (02/19/12) LBREPORT.COM VIDEO ON POLICE STAFFING
- (02/14/12) CITY COUNCIL VOTES 9-0 TO DELAY VOTE ON AN ACADEMY
- (02/12/12) CHIEF MCDONNELL SPEAKS TO LBREPORT.COM REGARDING AN ACADEMY
- (02/12/12) PT ARTICLE: LBPD/MERCHANTS BATTLE RISE IN CRIME
- (02/05/12) PT ARTICLE: INCREASE IN LB CRIME BRINGS CALL TO HIRE MORE OFFICERS
- (08/21/11) PT ARTICLE: LBPD CUTS SPUR FEARS OF SAFETY IMPACT
- (04/09/11) PT ARTICLE: LB POLICE FORCE GETTING OLDER AS ACADEMY WAITS
- (03/06/12) CITY COUNCIL POWER POINT - BUDGET DISCUSSION (FROM LB REPORT.COM)
- (03/06/12) LB REPORT.COM ARTICLE ON THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING
- (03/07/12) PT ARTICLE ON THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING
- (04/17/12) CITY OF LONG BEACH TAX MEASURE OPTIONS - CITY COUNCIL POWERPOINT
- (04/25/12) LBPD CRIME STATS SHOW DOUBLE-DIGIT INCREASE
- (04/26/12) LBPD MANAGEMENT CONSIDERS PATROL CHANGES
- (06/19/12) MANAGEMENT PARTNERS PRESENTATION (PART 1)
- (07/03/12) MANAGEMENT PARTNERS PRESENTATION (PART 2)
- (06/27/12) GARCIA TELLS LBPD WEST DIVISION FY13 BUDGET MUST INCLUDE ACADEMY
- (07/15/12) LONG BEACH SAFEGUARDS AGAINST BANKRUPTCY RISK
DEPARTMENT CHANGES
Elimination of the lease at 11 Golden Shore
Elimination of the lease at the former North PAL facility at 2311 South Street
Merge South and West Division into one new combined division.
(40) SWORN POSITIONS ELIMINATED
(1) South Division Commander position
(1) South Division Admin Officer position
(5) South Division Directed Enforcement Team
(2) Gang Detail Sergeant positions
(20) Gang Detail detective positions
(2) Homicide detective positions
(1) Vice Sergeant (the Warrant Detail position)
(2) Vice Detective positions (Warrant Detail positions)
(3) AOTC officer positions
(2) Violent Predator Unit positions
(1) Sergeant from the Support Admin, Prisoner Transport, Business Desk
(32) CIVILIAN POSITIONS ELIMINATED
Employee Services Office:
(1) Department Psychologist
(1) Clerk Typist
Other Clerk Typist positions:
(1) South Division Clerk Typist
(1) AOTC Clerk Typist
(3) Bureau Offices (reduction to one in each Bureau)
Police Service Specialist (PSS) positions:
(1) Vice Detail (Warrant Unit)
(1) Gang Detail
(1) Burglary Detail
(1) Sex Crimes Detail
(1) Crime Lab
(1) Domestic Violence Detail
(1) Violent Crimes Detail
(1) West Division Crime Analyst
(1) East Division Crime Analyst
(5) Each Patrol Division’s PSS
Admin Analyst positions:
(2) Bureau Budget Analyst position (staff reduced from 4 to 2)
Support Admin/Prisoner Transport/Business Desk:
(4) Special Services Officers
(5) Police Service Specialists
On July 22, 2012, the Press-Telegram newspaper printed its first article of the budget cycle listing the specific proposed cuts to the Police Department. The Chief-of-Police is quoted as saying, "We no longer have the numbers to continue working in the same capacity as we have in the past," and LBPOA President Steve James reminds readers of the inherent dangers of the City's 'proportional share' model of budgeting. Both leaders stress the importance of starting a police academy in order to keep police staffing from dropping below 760 officers (we are currently hovering around 805).
- (07/22/12) BUDGET WOES COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF 40 OFFICERS
- (07/24/12) LBPD STAFFING EXPECTED TO DROP TO 760 OFFICERS
- (07/24/12) LONG BEACH MURDER RATE SPIKES 54 PERCENT
- (07/24/12) LONG BEACH VIOLENT CRIMES AND PROPERTY CRIMES ARE UP
- (07/25/12) CITY BUDGET UNVEILING WILL WAIT
- (07/26/12) FY13 LONG BEACH BUDGET WILL INCLUDE A POLICE ACADEMY
- (07/28/12) HOW SHOULD LONG BEACH BUDGET BE CUT?
- (07/30/12) BUDGET WILL BE RELEASED IN NEXT 72 HOURS
- (07/31/12) LONG BEACH TO BALANCE 17.2 MILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT
CITY OF LONG BEACH BUDGET DOCUMENTS:
- MAYOR'S BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS
- PROPOSED FY13 GENERAL FUND BUDGET
- FY13 POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET
- COMMUNITY BUDGET BOOK
- TOP 40 GENERAL FUND REVENUE SOURCES
- WHAT IS PROPORTIONATE SHARE
- BUDGET PROCESS CALENDAR
- (08/01/12) PROPOSED LONG BEACH BUDGET CUTS (WITH VIDEO)
- (08/01/12) FY13 BUDGET CUTS 17 MILLION AND 195 JOBS
- (08/01/12) INITIAL REACTION FROM SELECTED CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
- (08/01/12) MAYOR PROPOSAL WILL CUT 40 SWORN OFFICERS
- (08/02/12) 5TH DISTRICT COUNCILWOMAN RESPONDS TO BUDGET
- (08/07/12) CITY MANAGER'S BUDGET POWERPOINT
- (08/07/12) MAYOR'S POWERPOINT ON ONE-TIME REVENUE EXPENDITURE
- (08/07/12) MAYOR URGES COUNCIL ON HOW TO USE OIL MONEY
- (08/07/12) THE CITY OF LONG BEACH BUDGET CHALLENGE SURVEY
- (08/13/12) TWO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS BLAST THE BUDGET
- (08/14/12) POLICE STAFFING PRESENTATION TO COUNCIL HAD ERRORS
- (08/14/12) LB FACES DEEP CUTS AMID $17.2 MILLION DEFICIT
- (08/14/12) CHIEF'S POWERPOINT PRESENTATION TO THE CITY COUNCIL
- (08/14/12) VIDEO OF CITY COUNCIL BUDGET HEARING (FORWARD TO AGENDA ITEM #15)
- (08/15/12) BUDGET OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE MEETING VIDEO (FOWARD TO AGENDA ITEM #9)
- (08/20/12) COUNCILWOMAN SCHIPSKE PROPOSES AN ALTERNATIVE BUDGET
- (08/27/12) COUNCILWOMAN SCHIPSKE LISTS WAYS TO AVERT CUTS
- City management explained where the extra one-time money comes from (only 10.9 million comes from oil money generated about the budgeted price per barrel)
- With Uplands Oil, 55% of our revenue comes from the sale price and 45% comes from a fee on the cost of drilling
- The number of oil wells being drilled is decreasing, and that is causing some decline in the oil revenue
- The average price per barrel of oil in FY11 was $97 per barrel (was assumed at $55/barrel in budget)
- Every $5 increase in the estimated budget price of oil is an add of $1.3M to the General Fund (and a decrease of $1.3 in the one-time money)
- They listed the Mayor's recommendations for one-time money usage (includes our academy)
- CLICK HERE TO SEE THE COUNCIL POWERPOINT ON ONE TIME REVENUE SPENDING
Without any prior notice, The City Manager announced that he had some new information. He explained that the City had found $2.7 million dollars in new money for the budget. This is not one-time money. This is on-going new revenue that can be added to on-going expenses. He found the money by doing the following:
- $1.3 million by increasing the estimated price of Upland oil in FY13 up to $70 per barrel (up from the original FY13 budgeted price of $65 and up from the FY12 price of $55)
- $1.0 million by cutting 1/3 of the sidewalk repair program
- $200k savings from changes to our Enterprise Fund for finance recovery (no idea what that is)
- $125k savings because City Light and Power agreed to a 5% contract cut
- $75k savings from Tech Services enhancement savings (whatever)
- $30k in money after the City found out that the Water Department was getting money from the phone company because they had a cell tower on their property…however, the tower was actually on City property, so now the City's General Fund will now get the money.
- CLICK HERE TO SEE THE CITY MANAGER PRESENTATION AND PROPOSED EXPENDITURES
After great discussion, the City Council referred the matter back to the Budget Oversight Committee for review. The committee will come up with a list of recommended expenditures that they will then present to the entire Council for review on Tuesday, September 4.
- (08/03/12) LB COUNCIL EYES OIL REVENUES TO STAVE OFF CUTS
- (08/03/12) GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT TO RESTORE POLICE STAFF
- (09/24/12) WHO WILL REVOTE ON UNWISE PUBLIC SAFETY CUTS?
- (10/01/12) BY THE NUMBERS: HOW THE COUNCIL CUT THE GANG UNIT
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