South Pasadena May Contract for Protection

The city of South Pasadena is considering contracting with neighboring agencies for its police and fire services to help alleviate a budget deficit, officials said.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and agencies in Pasadena and Alhambra, among others, have been asked to provide cost estimates, said South Pasadena City Manager Sean Joyce.

“We’re struggling to maintain our current level of services,” said Mayor Michael Cacciotti. “It’s all very preliminary. We’re just exploring our options. We haven’t made any decisions.”

The city is facing a shortfall next fiscal year of $800,000 to $1.8 million in its $27-million budget.

The amount of the shortfall will depend on statewide programs, such as the vehicle license fee, which provide funds for municipalities, Joyce said.

Santa Fe Springs has such a contractual agreement with Whittier and is served by Whittier’s police. The Sheriff’s Department serves 41 cities, including Carson, Lynwood and Temple City.

Joyce said he would have a better idea of the cost of contracting with outside agencies by the council meeting on Feb. 12.

South Pasadena, a community of about 25,000, has had its own police and fire departments since it was incorporated in 1888. The police force, with 35 officers, costs $5.3 million a year to maintain. The fire department, with 25 firefighters, costs about $3 million annually.

Police Chief Dan Watson said he understood the City Council would look into contracting because of the difficult financial times.

“If it happens,” Watson said, “the typical scenario is the exiting employees get absorbed” by the incoming agency.

Alhambra Police Chief Larry Lewis said he would welcome a contract with South Pasadena, calling it a “win-win” situation. Chief Bernard Melekian of the Pasadena Police Department said he was confident his agency could fulfill such a contract. A sheriff’s official specializing in such contracts could not be reached for comment.

The contract between South Pasadena and its police union has expired and the two sides disagree about pay increases. Watson and city officials said the inquiry into contracting with other agencies was not related to the dispute.

Cacciotti said South Pasadena was looking at a variety of ways to save money but is hindered by a long list of needs: Streets need to be repaired; the aging water system needs improvement; and the large senior population would like a better senior center and a better meal program.

The mayor said the city was continuing to hold meetings to determine what residents deem the most important services and what the city can afford to cut.