Sheriff staring down some stark financial reality

City Councilman Steve Wolfson says tax projections dismal, deeper cuts might be needed

Mona Shield Payne / Special to the Sun

Sheriff Doug Gillespie, pictured in this file photo, for the second year in a row, wants Metro to present a “zero-growth” budget for next fiscal year — one that won’t increase from the $549 million budgeted for this year.

By Abigail Goldman (contact)

Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009 | 2 a.m.

Oversight of Metro Police called into question (10-16-2009)
City, county may lose say in police pay negotiations (5-16-2009)
Sought: More questions, less rubber stamp (3-31-2009)
Those that pay Metro’s bills — city, county — might get more say (3-1-2009)
Second thoughts on second half of tax (2-25-2009)
Bill to raise sales tax to hire more cops proposed for 2009 session (9-2-2008)
Police make pitch to voters (9-24-2004)

Metro Sheriff Doug Gillespie is denying himself a raise again this year.

And, again, that small cut is hardly enough.

For the second year in a row, Gillespie wants Metro to present a “zero-growth” budget — he doesn’t want the department to spend any more during the next fiscal year than was budgeted for this year: $549 million.

To make that happen, Metro will have to cut its budget by $14 million to $23 million, department CEO Karen Keller said during a Metro Fiscal Affairs meeting Nov. 23.

But balancing a zero-growth budget is trickier the second time around, as department costs are rising while places to cut are getting harder to find, Keller said.

This is because the last zero-growth budget was only possible after $19 million in spending cuts: Among other economies, more than 30 civilians were laid off, and almost 200 additional positions remain unfilled.

Most important, however, in a department where 87 percent of the budget goes toward salary and benefits, was the fact that all three Metro employee bargaining groups — unions representing rank-and-file officers, civilian employees and Metro’s ranking brass — temporarily gave up their cost-of-living increases, which ranged from roughly 2 percent to 4 percent.

Without those employee concessions, the sheriff has said, the zero-growth budget would have been impossible. This year, as Gillespie tries to trim a leaner piece of meat, the same is no doubt doubly true: Jobs and corners can’t be cut twice — they can only be cut deeper.

To this end, an internal “budget reduction task force” has spent the past three months combing the department for places to save money, Gillespie said. The three-team task force has now visited every operating unit in the department and, starting next week, will spend three days presenting its findings to Metro’s executive staff.

“The best-case scenario is a zero increase,” Gillespie said, “And we’re going to do our level best to bring it in under that.”

Clark County pays roughly 60 percent of Metro’s budget, the city of Las Vegas pays 40 percent, and both are facing multimillion-dollar budget shortfalls. Given this, some have wondered whether a zero-growth budget is sacrifice enough.

“I’m not sure if a flat rate is going to be enough,” Las Vegas City Councilman Steve Wolfson said during the department’s Fiscal Affairs meeting this week. “These are the most serious of times, and our tax projections are dismal.”

How deep Metro will be able to cut will depend heavily on how much the employee unions are willing to give up. Negotiations with all three groups are set to begin early next year, and until then, everybody is keeping quiet.

Paul Page, chairman of the Las Vegas Police Managers and Supervisors Association — the union that represents employees ranked as sergeants or higher — said much rests on the budget reduction task force, and how much it can find to trim.

Chris Collins, president of the Police Protective Association, which represents more than 2,700 Metro officers, says he’s ready to sit down with the sheriff and work out an agreement. Terri Yada, president of Metro’s civilian employees union, said she is also ready to come to the table.

“I’m hoping there is a light at the end of this seemingly dark tunnel,” Yada said.

Discussion: 14 comments so far…

Comments are moderated by Las Vegas Sun editors. Our goal is not to limit the discussion, but rather to elevate it. Comments should be relevant and contain no abusive language. Comments that are off-topic, vulgar, profane or include personal attacks will be removed. Full comments policy.

By mred

Nov. 25, 2009

6:44 a.m.

Suggest removal

We have fewer tourists, less construction, less population...it is time to cut the police by 300 people and forget the idea of a new HQ.

The empty buildings can be guarded by $7 an hour security guards.
By neiman1

Nov. 25, 2009

7:38 a.m.

Suggest removal

If there are fewer residents and fewer visitors do we really need the same number of officers?

If we invest a few bucks in driver training and some "supervision" we might cut down the wrecked cars and bodies caused by members of this department.

The first change to management should be a new sheriff.
By ths

Nov. 25, 2009

7:50 a.m.

Suggest removal

Before the boom this department has less officers per 1,000 residents then the average in the nation. That does not include the tourists.

I have seen so many neighborhoods, even mine willing to pay a couple more dollars per house on a monthly basis to have Private Security patrol. Ours sent out a survey and more then 70% was willing to pay more, and more then 60% of the 70% were willing to pay $2.50 or more dollars a month.

This shows safety is peoples #1 concern.

So all you that dismiss the police as a service that can be done with less, wait until you need them and there is an hour or more wait because of backlog on calls.
By dt0702

Nov. 25, 2009

8:28 a.m.

Suggest removal

In a time when we need MORE OFFICERS and more overtime for officers. The previous comment was correct. SAFETY TO OUR CITIZENS !!
Why can't we hire them for security in our neighborhoods or businesses like other states do ?
Why can't this state pay its bills ?
Who is in charge of our TAX DOLLARS ?
Why can't people who work hard, have a nice home or a nice car (even leave your garage door opened) and have peace of mind that it won't be violated by some thug?

This is like living in a ghetto, until everyone gets ORGANIZED, Vote the BUMS OUT OF OFFICE ON ELECTION DAY! ALL THE CORRUPT POLITICIANS !!
Take back control of our state our city, our schools,our workplaces, our children, our homes!

This is a much bigger problem than money or violence, THIS STARTS FROM THE TOP and rolls downhill !!!
By vegaslee

Nov. 25, 2009

8:46 a.m.

Suggest removal

Since there are less tourists this gives the police the time to get rid of all the gangs and wannabe gangs in Clark County.

Vegas will be a safer place once the gangs are sent back to California or put in jail.

Gangs talk about their rights, how about the rights of the people that live here and pay the taxes. Lets get our right to live safe back in our own homes.
By GrandmaCrabby

Nov. 25, 2009

8:54 a.m.

Suggest removal

I agree that public safety is a top priority. Metro is the last place I want to see budget cuts.
By gopher

Nov. 25, 2009

9:48 a.m.

Suggest removal

"Light at the end of the tunnel"? Do these public sector morons not get that 2010 will be worst and 2011 the worst of all? There is no increase in revenue coming for a long while. Certainly not at the level that will support 5% to 8% increase in wages and benefits. Denial will not get this done and the public will pay the price for this public sector incompetence.
By sal

Nov. 25, 2009

9:57 a.m.

Suggest removal

What about the cost of the new Metro headquarters being built? A new Las Vegas City hall and a new Metro headquarters at a time when both the city and county are on the verge of bankruptcy.
By lvsreader

Nov. 25, 2009

10:05 a.m.

Suggest removal

Cut the fire department to pay for police. Stop overtime pension puffing schemes in both PD and FD.
By Flash

Nov. 25, 2009

10:17 a.m.

Suggest removal

30 million could be cut from Gaming Commision, they are being paid to look other way, by the mafia you call Gameing and nothing to see here people run along a have some free Koolaide.
By Harley

Nov. 25, 2009

11:02 a.m.

Suggest removal

Move these public service monopolies to the private sector allowing those seeking such services an opportunity to purchase them in a competitive market place.

"We cannot solve today's problems with the same level of thinking that created them." -- A. Einstein

: {
By just_an_average_joe

Nov. 25, 2009

12:16 p.m.

Suggest removal

lvsreader

exactly!

unfortunately our grossly overpaid fire department is VERY well connected politically. this is why a "professional firefighter" makes 4 times the median income in this town (no college degree required, but only those well connected may apply....)

trying to lower the complensation of these "heroes" has been political poison, however, the masses are finally waking up and realizing how much of our taxpayer dollars are being wasted.
By wizardofOz

Nov. 25, 2009

7:27 p.m.

Suggest removal

Let's get METRO involved in getting rid of these criminal gangs.

Pound these criminal gangs hard. With both fists.

Pound them harder than they've ever been pounded before.

And keep pounding.

Pounding and pounding and pounding. Relentless. Non-stop.

And then get METRO working with ICE.

To enforce all the illegal alien gang laws.

No illegal alien gang santuary city for us.

No more criminal gangs in our streets who roam at will.

Who coldly kill innocent people for fun and profit.

I don't care how much money it takes. I absolutely don't.

Because a good man who served for us has died needlessly in his garage.

And all he did was come home from work.

I am speaking softly, but I want us to carry a big stick, a very, big stick.