Police, fire units face cuts in funds

Two Spokane neighborhood fire stations would be closed next year under budget cuts currently being considered at City Hall.

In addition, the police department could lose staffing for its traffic enforcement unit, volunteer services, COPS shops, report writing center and other special services.

The city prosecutor might stop prosecuting some misdemeanor cases – marijuana possession, for example.

Spokane City Council members on Thursday got their first briefing from public safety departments on what might be lost under an anticipated $6 million budget reduction for 2006.

“We are going backwards at a very, very rapid rate,” said Police Chief Roger Bragdon, who lost 25 officers over the past year.

Bragdon said he stands to lose at least 33 more officers next year, in addition to other, non-commissioned staff.

Clearly frustrated, the police chief told the council that he’d be happy to continue at the current funding level, “to do the same lousy job” as the department is doing in 2005. But Bragdon also complimented his officers for handling the cuts professionally, and the public for being understanding about the situation.

One alternative might be a ballot measure this fall to lift the state-imposed limit on regular property tax collections. Mayor Jim West has asked a task force of citizens and public safety union leaders to consider revenue options for police and fire services. He has also ordered a hiring freeze in tax-funded city departments.

Raising the taxing limit would close much of the city’s budget gap, bringing in about $5 million. Unlike bonds and special levies, which require 60 percent voter approval, the regular levy could be raised with a simple majority.

Council members on Thursday said they are eager to find new revenue sources wherever they can, including charges for emergency medical calls to retirement centers, medical supplies and false alarms.

Fire officials previously had said the city was facing the possible closure of one neighborhood station, and one idea was to have rolling closures of one different station each day.

Deputy Fire Chief Dave Leavenworth told the council Thursday that the fire department may have to close two stations and eliminate 24 positions to meet a $2.3 million cut.

The department in 2005 lost 50 firefighter positions, which has led to increases in response times and in movements by engine companies as they cover for staff reductions across the city. At the same time, calls for help from the public are up by 3 percent.

Leavenworth said the department brass believes they have few other choices than closing two stations. “There’s really nothing left we can cut in pieces,” he told the council.

Rather than absorb more cuts, he said the department should be adding back staff for three neighborhood engine companies, training, fire inspections, arson investigations and other internal services.

City Prosecutor Howard Delaney said if his office loses one of its 10 attorneys, the case loads for the remaining lawyers will be the highest in the state, upwards of 2,400 cases a year for each attorney. Under those circumstances, the city prosecutor might have to cease prosecuting some crimes.

“If you want pot smokers to run wild, we can stop prosecuting pot smokers,” he said. Delaney was recently appointed interim city attorney to replace outgoing City Attorney Mike Connelly.

Delaney recommended adding a lawyer to prosecute traffic offenses and parking tickets.. He submitted an analysis that showed the city would net at least $30,000 a year after paying the $60,000 annual cost of the added attorney.