I feel the need to expand on a statement I have made several times on the Dias and most recently at the April 23rd Folsom City Council Meeting during Police Chief Hillman’s Crime and Homelessness presentation, but haven’t had a chance to fully expand on and accurately articulate in one setting.
In the July 2023-July 2024 fiscal year budget, 25% of the general fund budget was allocated to the police department. This was the first time in eight years that the police department share of the budget dropped a percentage point from 26% to 25%. For reference, the 2023-24 general fund budget passed was $108.5 million (which showed an increase in revenue of close to 5 million dollars from the previous year). This means that under the 26% formula the police department would have been allocated approximately $28 million rather than the actual 25% or $27 million it received instead. This is the 1 million dollar decrease in the share of funding for the police department that has been referred to multiple times.
Here’s the point: if the city budget had remained at 26% the police department would have been funded with $1 million more than they have now. This equates to almost six officers. The police administration could have used these resources and/or possible officers, in the manner they saw fit to serve our community. Knowing that at present staffing levels the police department is unable to staff regular patrols for South of 50, has needs to staff a dedicated Homeless Outreach Team as other cities do, and is working on efforts to support businesses and residents as they face rising retail theft and additional violent crimes – our staffing levels are unacceptable.
During the 2023-2024 city budget approval, which took less than an hour of discussion, my request for additional law enforcement positions was shut down. It became apparent that the budget priorities of the body had been decided, and so a vote was taken to pass the budget and I have since publicly voiced my regret in placing that vote. However this year, I will look to approve a budget that addresses your very clear, passionate and articulate desire to reduce the drastic increase in crime we have seen envelope our city.
The community has shown an outpouring of support over the last six months at city council meetings, Coffee with Cop events, asking for the police department to be a budget priority. I have faith that your Folsom City Council has genuinely heard the community priority for public safety, and will recognize that this is not the city manager’s budget, or the city council’s budget – but rather, a Folsom resident’s budget and that is who should be guiding the priorities.
My vision for this city is to be the safest and most prosperous city in the region. Every decision I make is guided by that desire. Ensuring our police department has the officers and resources it needs isn’t just a public safety issue. It touches on how we can walk our trails, play in our parks, visit our library, and attract and retain businesses and economic development. It alleviates the pressure on our parks maintenance staff, public works staff, and reduces the overtime burden on our officers. Public safety is a building block for what makes Folsom such a fantastic place to live. We need to get back to one of the key things that distinguished Folsom, our impeccably low crime rate and high safety.
As always, I invite you to contact me or my fellow colleagues with your concerns, comments or questions.
Anna Rohrbough represents Folsom’s District 5 on City Council. She can be reached at AnnaR@folsom.ca.us. She authors and submits to the “Council Corner” commentary column that is open to all Folsom City Council Members to engage with the community on various local topics. Folsom Times welcomes commentary from all appointed city or government officials who submit for publication. Submissions are not solicited and the opinions expressed in such content is that of the author and not the ownership or staff of Folsom Times.