Panel approves LAPD budget; some resist cuts

The Los Angeles Police Commission on Tuesday approved a $1.3-billion budget proposal for the Police Department for the next fiscal year, with some members objecting to a call by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa for a 5% cut in spending from the current year’s budget.

A cut of that size would amount to about $68 million and could harm the department’s mandate to expand the police force, some commission members said.

“The cuts the mayor is talking about would be draconian,” said Commissioner Andrea Sheridan Ordin.

LAPD Chief William J. Bratton said he is prepared to make his case for an increase, which he said is justified because of a hike in trash fees to pay for more police.

“We are very concerned,” added Rhonda Sims-Lewis, a commanding officer overseeing the budget. “Ninety-five percent of our budget is salaries,” giving the department little room to trim without eliminating jobs.

Commissioners noted that the mayor has made public safety a high priority and is committed to a plan to expand the police force by 1,000 officers over five years.

In a letter to Bratton, Villaraigosa touted the police force expansion, saying, “I expect this budget to bring us closer to our vision of Los Angeles as the great global city of the 21st century; where Angelenos are connected by a world-class transit system; where we lead the nation in our commitment to green practices and environmental sustainability; where every neighborhood in L.A. is safe ... “

However, he said, “mounting uncertainties,” including economic problems and the potential loss of revenue from the Department of Water and Power, mean that the city could face a $250-million shortfall in the fiscal year beginning July 1.

For that reason, Villaraigosa asked the LAPD -- as well as other city departments -- to submit budget proposals by Friday that detail how the departments will achieve a 5% reduction over the current year’s adopted budget.

“The end result will be a balanced budget that keeps us on target to achieve our shared vision for Los Angeles,” Villaraigosa wrote.

The budget approved by the commission represents a 14.8% increase over this year, with most of the increase -- $60 million -- covering promised salary increases.

An additional $27.1 million is included in the budget for new vehicles, helicopters and other replacement equipment.

The budget also includes $5 million to install video cameras in more police cars.

The budget proposes an additional 226 police officers, including extra staff to investigate cold-case homicides, and 585 additional civilians.

Because the police force remains understaffed, the budget would add $11 million for police overtime, adding 200,000 hours to the 1.2 million normally allowed.

Ordin said the overtime funding is crucial to keeping officers on the street while the department works to expand its ranks.

Villaraigosa’s office did not return phone calls on the commission’s concerns.

The police budget requires approval from the mayor and City Council.

Commission Vice President Alan Skobin did not endorse the 5% cut but said there may be some efficiencies to be found that would not hurt the deployment plan. “I think what we need to do is try to present as lean a budget as we can,” Skobin said.

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patrick.mcgreevy@latimes.com