Editorial
Tough choices
| Article published on Tuesday, May 26, 2009 |
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Facing tough budget decisions, Clearwater officials late last year hired a consulting firm to study the police department and suggest improvements.
The firm, Matrix Consultant Group, said the city has a “well-managed” police department, but recommended some personnel moves to save money.
Matrix recommended that the four-member Beach Walk Community Policing Team be eliminated, at a savings of $311,679 per year. The consultants pointed out that the team mainly responds to minor crimes such as panhandling, drinking on the beach and the theft of visitors’ belongings.
Nevertheless, a council member said their officers will become more needed as new hotels are built. Agreed. The presence of law enforcement officers in any area deters crime, and the densely populated beach areas are no exception. City officials have a major investment in the hospitality industry; it should be sensitive to protecting it.
Other recommendations hold more promise. Replacing the popular 10-hour per day, four-day work week to an eight-hour, five-day work week could eliminate nine positions and save the department $660,800 per year.
City officials would have to negotiate with the police union over this issue, and they should. Such a substantial savings is hard to ignore. The union, too, should be sensitive to the budget issues facing local governments.
Matrix made other recommendations, too, that deserve consideration. Some of the choices facing city officials and the council are painful, but they have to make substantial cuts to balance their budget.
Although they might not agree with all the recommendations of the consultants, city officials can at least say that any forthcoming personnel decisions involving the police department were not made on a whim. In this case, hiring a consulting firm was a prudent move.
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A civic organization has proposed building an observation deck overlooking the yacht basin in Indian Rocks Beach.
A2K plans to finance the $50,000 project and build it in two phases. The first phase would be a 5-foot by 20-foot long observation deck at the seawall overlooking the yacht basin at 600 Gulf Blvd. The second phase would extend the deck with a walkway to an additional observation deck 30 feet over the mangroves and the basin.
Local residents have been asked for their comments on the project. At first glance, the project appears to be an attractive way to promote the town’s scenery to residents and visitors.
Kudos to A2K, which has made substantial contributions to Indian Rocks Beach over the years, for their continued interest in the community.
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Article published on Tuesday, May 26, 2009
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