Utica Police Department And The City Budget
By: Rachel Polansky
Updated: February 27, 2013
Members of the Utica Finance Committee are still studying the proposed
2013-2014 budget, specifically its effect on the city police department.
They spoke with Police Chief Mark Williams last night about the police
departments nearly $22-million dollar share of the budget and one area
of concern is Mayor Palmieri's decision to cut over $600-thousand
dollars in stipends for the department. While the finance committee says
they're not involved with the stipends, they're trying to come up with
other ways to save money, while not cutting jobs.
"That whole department is running on fumes just like the city. We talked about a lot of consolidation in the area, we have an opportunity to possibly do it here. We have mechanics in the Fire Department, Police and DPW. They're talking about auto purchases, that may be something on the chopping block because would you rather have a car or 3 bodies patrolling?" says Joe Marino, Councilman & Finance Committee member.
As far as the stipends are concerned, the Mayor says the city has filed a grievance to get the stipends removed. But if the city loses, they will have to reinstate it back into the budget.
"That whole department is running on fumes just like the city. We talked about a lot of consolidation in the area, we have an opportunity to possibly do it here. We have mechanics in the Fire Department, Police and DPW. They're talking about auto purchases, that may be something on the chopping block because would you rather have a car or 3 bodies patrolling?" says Joe Marino, Councilman & Finance Committee member.
As far as the stipends are concerned, the Mayor says the city has filed a grievance to get the stipends removed. But if the city loses, they will have to reinstate it back into the budget.
