Half of City Budget to Go to Police Force
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As many as 12 police officers could be hired under a budget recently adopted by the City Council.
The budget for 1998-99 calls for spending nearly $70 million of the city’s $139-million budget on police protection, the largest single item in the spending plan.
The council agreed to spend $26 million on fire protection and $11 million to run the parks and recreation department. About $1.6 million is targeted for neighborhood improvements, including curbs, gutters, sidewalks and streets. No money was earmarked for street lights for alley improvements, which prompted criticism from one council member.
Since he was elected in 1994, Councilman Ted Moreno has lobbied for more spending on lights, streets and sidewalks.
“Every year we are spending less on capital improvements,” Moreno said. “That is not a good trend.”
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