Fiscal Year 2013-2015 Special Budget Meeting

recognized that revenue and the money is already allocated for services in that Budget. Endorsement of Service Levels in the Mayor's Proposed Budget In my opinion, the Mayor's Budget did a very good job of balancing the fiscal constraints we continue to live with, while keeping basic levels of services in most departments and beginning to restore the number of officers in the Police Department that were lost in recent years. The City lost over 200 officers during the budget cutbacks. The Mayor's budget would restore less than half of them over a two year period. I do not want to lose sight of the fact that Oakland's crime rate remains a critical concern and reducing it is the highest priority for the people we represent. While we recognize that a range of services is necessary to address the root causes of poverty and crime, we also know that having a severely understaffed Police Department is a key part of the marked rise in crime in the past two years. We have an immediate problem that needs to be addressed now. To successfully do so will greatly increase economic development in our city, and that will positively impact everyone in the long-term. Thus it is important that, at minimum, we retain the allocation of funds for all the police academies in the Mayor's budget. These training academies are necessary to approach a goal of 700 officers within two years - a goal which is still far short of the number of officers needed. I am pleased that some additional funds have become available since the Mayor's budget was completed. This budget amendment proposal is intended to address additional unmet needs in the community, to the extent that we have the funds to do so. 1 urge your approval of the bulk of the recommendations. Respectfully submitted, Patricia Kernighan, City'Coundl President 5 SPECL^ MEETING OF THE OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL JUN 1 3 2013