Auditor: Insurance costs impede hiring of police

The auditor said there are funds to replace the officer who retired.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD -- Police Chief Frank Bigowsky has been hoping to hire new police officers for months, but those hopes may once again be shattered by the city's tight financial outlook.
The city police department had one officer retire May 6. Bigowsky would like to replace that officer and hire one additional officer and a full-time dispatcher.
The chief has said the police department is operating with a $54,500 cushion for the remainder of the year and is in need of additional manpower.
City Auditor Sam Zirafi said the financial picture for the department has changed. Zirafi, in a meeting with council's finance committee, said hospitalization insurance costs for the police department are running higher than expected, eating into any "extra" funds the department may have had in the budget.
According to Zirafi, the police department has $189,000 set aside to pay for health insurance. The department, he said, has used about $80,000 of that in the first four months of this year -- a figure considerably higher than projected.
Widespread issue
Zirafi said hospitalization will be an issue for all city departments. He said the city has budgeted $1 million total for hospitalization in all departments but may spend between $1.3 million and $1.4 million.
Zirafi said savings in any areas within the police department will likely be taken up by the additional hospitalization costs. He said hiring additional officers at this time is not advisable.
"Right now I just don't feel comfortable hiring any additional personnel. I just don't know if the money is going to be there," he said.
Zirafi said there are funds available to replace the officer who retired.
Zirafi also said financial issues with Girard Municipal Court could affect any additional hiring in the police department and the city as a whole.
Another financial strain
The city is awaiting a ruling from the court of appeals on additional funds Judge Michael Bernard ordered paid to the court in 2005. The judge has since issued a second order for funds in 2006. Zirafi said each department in the city's general fund will have to cut back if the city loses the court case.
Bigowsky said bringing in additional officers is imperative to public safety, even if it means transferring money from other city funds that may see a surplus. Zirafi said such transferring of funds is illegal.
The police chief may get some additional personnel if council allows him to use money set aside for overtime in the police department to hire those officers. Bigowsky said hiring officers would reduce overtime costs, thus decreasing the need for as much money for overtime. The overtime budget is $144,000.
Councilman Frank Migliozzi said he favors hiring additional officers out of available funds in the overtime budget if overtime is decreased as a result of the move. He will take the issue before council at its next regular meeting.
"This council, at least the finance committee, is prepared to make an amendment to the budget to change some funds from the overtime line item to salary and benefits if that is what it takes," he said.
jgoodwin@vindy.com