Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Did Police Get What They Need from Fresno's New $1.4 Billion Budget?
David Website Replacement
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 3 years ago on
June 24, 2021

Share

The Fresno City Council passed the $1.4 billion budget by a 5-2 vote.

Council members debated on how well city funding improves police. Councilmembers Garry Bredefeld and Mike Karbassi, who both voted no on the budget, felt more could have been done.

“Every one of us campaign on (public safety). Every one of us talk about it. And what happens is all the little pet projects, immigrant funds and climate change and all the stuff we shouldn’t be spending city taxpayer dollars on is being wasted here,” Bredefeld said.

Other councilmembers disagreed.

“The department is receiving more money than what was proposed and requested in the mayor’s budget, and as much as I enjoy my role of asking tough questions, understand the return on investment, they are the experts in public policing, and we have taken their lead by funding above and beyond their proposed budget request,” Councilmember Miguel Arias responded.

Chief Balderrama Calls it a Win

“Every one of us campaign on (public safety). Every one of us talk about it. And what happens is all the little pet projects, immigrant funds and climate change and all the stuff we shouldn’t be spending city taxpayer dollars on is being wasted here.” — Councilman Garry Bredefeld

The budget includes money to hire 12 more police officers, up to 850. However, enough vacancies and long-term absences exist where the city has had difficulty deploying  even 700 active officers.

“Progressively, I want to keep building this police department and I’ve been very vocal about it, that more police officers will help citywide. It’s going to help us respond to calls quicker,” Balderrama said after the vote.

His goal is eventually to get to 950 officers.

“That is definitely a win. Another big win is the fact that I got what I asked for as far as new equipment, training, all the things that we need to operate the police department,” Balderrama said.

In the future, Balderrama hopes to replace the department’s aging helicopters.

The $204 million budget is slightly down from the prior year ($209 million). The budget includes $6.8 million from federal pandemic stimulus funds.

At least 15 community service officers — civilians that can be assigned to take reports after a crime like a home break-in has occurred — will be hired.

“We want to be able to give the city better customer service,” Balderrama said.

More CSOs can increase service time in responding to cases, and free up sworn officers to respond to more urgent matters.

Budget Includes Some Recruiting Incentives

“The workload our officers take on is above and beyond what anybody else in this Valley does. But the pay does not reflect that.” —Stephen Latham, FPOA

The next step for Balderrama is recruiting to fill the ranks of the department. His staff is reaching out to military veterans and engaging in a promotional campaign.

But, a representative of the police union questions whether the city is doing as much as it can to help recruiting.

“The workload our officers take on is above and beyond what anybody else in this Valley does. But the pay does not reflect that,” Stephen Lathan, second vice president of the Fresno Police Officers Association said.

“When you’re trying to recruit people to come here to fill those vacant positions, that is something that obviously any intelligent applicant that’s out there looking for that job is going to look that. And if they can make more money somewhere else in a lower stress environment, why wouldn’t they consider that other city?”

During budget discussions on Tuesday, the council rejected increasing an incentive bonus for existing law enforcement officers from other agencies who join the Fresno Police Department. By a 4-2 vote, the council rejected a proposal to raise the incentive from $10,000 to $20,000.

“The rejection by council to try to make us competitive with other agencies up and down the state just sends a clear message of what their priorities really are. And that could have helped. It could have helped attract some more people,” Latham said.

Latham said that newly hired Clovis police officers earn $1,200 a month more than their Fresno counterparts.

The council did approve another type of incentive — a $20,000 bonus for officers to live in the city, south of Shaw Avenue. That passed by a 6-0 vote.

“If they want to offer an incentive for officers to live south of Shaw, that’s fine. We have plenty of officers who live south of Shaw within the city of Fresno. But I don’t think that moves the bar,” Latham said.

“We want to pay people what they’re worth in order to attract the best and the brightest,” Balderrama said.

Council: Money Discussed at Negotiating Table

Mayor Jerry Dyer, at a news conference, defended the council for opting not to increase salaries or approve certain hiring incentives during the budget process.

“We are in contract negotiations right now with a number of our labor organizations. That is the appropriate venue for those discussions to occur, whether that is a lateral hiring incentives, retention plans and bonuses, salary increases. And so the last place that should be done, quite frankly, is here on the dais,” Dyer said.

Arias said it was “irresponsible” to negotiate through sound bites.

“I have full confidence that the police chief and the mayor know what they’re doing when it comes to recruitment of police officers. And if and when they make a request for adjustments to achieve their goal of 150 officers, the council will consider it,” Arias said.

Council President Luis Chavez said the city council always supported police.

“Public safety was a big priority for this council, and we just want to make sure that that is understood by the community,” Chavez said.

Mayor Jerry Dyer and members of the Fresno City Council meet with the media to discuss the budget. (GV Wire/Jahz Tello)

Legal Defense Funds Supported

The budget also includes $200,000 for a legal defense fund for immigrants facing deportation. Priority would be given to domestic violence victims, women, children and families at risk of being separated.

Bredefeld voiced his opposition.

“Your tax dollars are now being used to defend people here illegally,” Bredefeld said.

Also, the city council shifted $750,000 from the Emergency Rental Assistance Program to an eviction protection program. The city council previously passed a framework for providing a legal defense for those facing eviction and now have funding. Details of how the program will work and who will be eligible still need to be decided.

DON'T MISS

Bulldogs Stack Double-Doubles Like Burgers on a Plate to Beat Prairie View

DON'T MISS

Bitcoin Is at the Doorstep of $100,000 as Post-Election Rally Rolls On

DON'T MISS

US Regulators Seek to Break Up Google, Forcing Chrome Sale as Part of Monopoly Punishment

DON'T MISS

Wall Street Climbs as Nvidia Swings, Bitcoin Rises and Alphabet Sinks

DON'T MISS

Major Storm Drops Record Rain, Downs Trees in Northern California After Devastation Further North

DON'T MISS

Police Report Reveals Assault Allegations Against Hegseth, Trump’s Pick for Defense Secretary

DON'T MISS

Republicans Target Social Sciences to Curb Ideas They Don’t Like

DON'T MISS

Gaetz Withdraws as Trump’s Pick for Attorney General

DON'T MISS

Fresno County Men Arrested in Armed Robbery Near Sanger High, Sanger Academy

DON'T MISS

Newsom Heads to Fresno, a County That Voted for Trump

UP NEXT

Fresno County Men Arrested in Armed Robbery Near Sanger High, Sanger Academy

UP NEXT

Suspect Arrested After Oakhurst Crime Spree Leaves K9 Injured

UP NEXT

With or Without Lockridge, Can Bulldogs Get Out of Their Own Way to Become Bowl Eligible?

UP NEXT

This Kitty Seeks a Quiet Home to Call Her Own

UP NEXT

Madera County Shooting Strikes K-9, Investigation Ongoing

UP NEXT

Former Bitwise Employees Settle for $20 Million: Fresno Attorney

UP NEXT

When Will the Rain Arrive in Fresno? (Hint: Turn Off Your Sprinklers)

UP NEXT

Fresno Council Wants Stiffer Vetting for Violence Prevention Trainees

UP NEXT

Looking for a Night Out? Bill Burr, Ralph Barbosa and West Coast Takeover Are Up Next

UP NEXT

Visalia’s Stephen Vogt Voted AL Manager of the Year

David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

Wall Street Climbs as Nvidia Swings, Bitcoin Rises and Alphabet Sinks

13 minutes ago

Major Storm Drops Record Rain, Downs Trees in Northern California After Devastation Further North

24 minutes ago

Police Report Reveals Assault Allegations Against Hegseth, Trump’s Pick for Defense Secretary

33 minutes ago

Republicans Target Social Sciences to Curb Ideas They Don’t Like

38 minutes ago

Gaetz Withdraws as Trump’s Pick for Attorney General

1 hour ago

Fresno County Men Arrested in Armed Robbery Near Sanger High, Sanger Academy

1 hour ago

Newsom Heads to Fresno, a County That Voted for Trump

1 hour ago

Conservative Professors and Students Are Suing California’s Community Colleges, and Winning

2 hours ago

How Trump Can Earn a Place in History That He Did Not Expect

2 hours ago

Love Seeks Redemption as Packers Prepare for 49ers Rematch

2 hours ago

Bulldogs Stack Double-Doubles Like Burgers on a Plate to Beat Prairie View

Key Stats: Bulldogs make 18 of 25 free throws, grab 49 rebounds Stars of the Game: Elijah Price and Mor Seck Up Next: Fresno State at Long B...

36 seconds ago

37 seconds ago

Bulldogs Stack Double-Doubles Like Burgers on a Plate to Beat Prairie View

1 minute ago

Bitcoin Is at the Doorstep of $100,000 as Post-Election Rally Rolls On

9 minutes ago

US Regulators Seek to Break Up Google, Forcing Chrome Sale as Part of Monopoly Punishment

13 minutes ago

Wall Street Climbs as Nvidia Swings, Bitcoin Rises and Alphabet Sinks

24 minutes ago

Major Storm Drops Record Rain, Downs Trees in Northern California After Devastation Further North

33 minutes ago

Police Report Reveals Assault Allegations Against Hegseth, Trump’s Pick for Defense Secretary

38 minutes ago

Republicans Target Social Sciences to Curb Ideas They Don’t Like

1 hour ago

Gaetz Withdraws as Trump’s Pick for Attorney General

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend