Safety forces costs up in Campbell

By jeanne starmack

starmack@vindy.com

campbell

Spending in the city’s general fund is above where it should be for this time of year, and overtime in the safety forces is the main reason why.

Tim Lintner, a financial supervisor on the commission that oversees the city while it is in fiscal emergency, said that through the month of April, the general fund is 7.4 percent above budgeted appropriations.

“Police and fire are the main cause,” Lintner said Monday at a commission meeting.

“The city may have to adjust appropriations or find another revenue source if this continues; otherwise, it will be back in deficit spending,” he continued.

Lintner and Mayor Bill VanSuch confirmed that overtime in the departments is high.

“It’s only [through] April, so they’re going to blow through that overtime appropriation,” said Sharon Hanrahan, chairwoman of the commission. “Are we looking at more staffing in police?”

VanSuch said the city has advertised a civil- service test for the position of patrolman, and that test will take place May 31.

He said after the meeting he could not confirm how many police officers would be hired, adding that it depends on how many the city can afford.

There are 13 full-time officers in the department now, including the chief. The department’s complement under the city’s charter is 16 full-time officers.

The city also has said it is going to move toward a volunteer fire department as the five full-time firefighters retire.