Agenda Item Wording:
title
COPS Grant - Authorize and accept expenditures for training, equipment, salary & benefits for 1.5 police officer positions through the State of California Citizens Option for Public Safety (COPS) Program funds of $222,386 and $189,083 for fiscal year 2022-23 COPS Growth funds for a total Grant $411,469, and appropriate $111,300.
body
Deadline for Action: 12/4/2023
Submitting Department: Police Department
Contact Name and Phone Number:
Chief Jason Salazar, ext. 4215, jason.salazar@visalia.city <mailto:jason.salazar@visalia.city>; Financial Analyst Liz Ybarra, ext. 4250, liz.ybarra@visalia.city <mailto:liz.ybarra@visalia.city>
Department Recommendation:
Authorize and accept recommended expenditures for training, equipment, salary & benefits for 1.5 police officer positions through the State of California fiscal year 2022-2023 Citizens Option for Public Safety (COPS) Program funds of $222,386 and $189,083 for fiscal year 2022-23 COPS Growth funds for a total grant of $411,469 and appropriate $111,300 for the current Grant.
Summary:
AB 3229 creates the Citizens Option for Public Safety (COPS) Program. The bill allocates money to cities and counties for law enforcement and public safety purposes. California Government Code sections 30061 through 30063 regulates the funding.
The City of Visalia was allocated a total of $441,469 that will be deposited in and expensed from Fund 631. The Grant will be used to continue funding salary and benefits for 1.5 existing police officer positions. In addition, the Department uses the funds for training, equipment, and other front line law enforcement services. In addition to the salary and benefits, the Department will replace outdated lighting and sighting equipment related to the patrol duty rifles assigned to each patrol officer. The Department will purchase 166 new rifle sight systems for an estimated cost of $72,000. Once funding is approved, a public request for a bid will be announced. A budget of $10,000 is also included for executive and management training.
Background Discussion:
In FY 2023/24 the State allocated a total of $214,200,000 for COPS and Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention (JJCPA) and it is shared among County and City Agencies. The State allocates 5.15% to the County Sheriff’s Office, 5.15% to the District Attorney’s Office, 50% for JJCPA, and 39.7% for City and County front line law enforcement services. The allocations are calculated in a manner that provides a minimum Grant allocation of $100,000 to each law enforcement jurisdiction. The City Council is responsible for appropriating the COPS Grant funds, which may only be spent on “front line law enforcement services” and may not be used to supplant existing law enforcement services. “Front line law enforcement services” is not specifically defined in the legislation, but includes anti-gang and community crime prevention programs, equipment, or services. The funds may not be used for capital construction projects. Funds must be expended or encumbered annually.
Fiscal Impact:
The COPS Grant is budgeted annually which includes projected revenue and expenditures. Once the final Grant allocation is announced and expenditures are finalized, adjustments are made to the budget.
The police officer position is included in the budget projections for the current fiscal year. The cost of the new equipment is projected at $72,000 and requires a new CIP account. The training will be processed against the operating budget. The table below provides details about the revenue and expenditures for the grant and the additional appropriations required of $111,300.
|
Citizens Option For Public Safety (COPS) 631 Fund Activity |
|
|
FY 2023/24 |
Current Budget |
Budget Adjustment |
|
Revenue |
|
State COPS Funds FY 23/24 |
$411,469 |
$350,000 |
$61,469 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expenditures |
|
Salary & Benefits (Includes OT) |
$305,600 |
$278,300 |
$27,300 |
|
Operating |
$3,300 |
$3,300 |
- |
|
Equipment Purchase (Sight System) |
$72,000 |
- |
$72,000 |
|
Executive Training |
$10,000 |
- |
$10,000 |
|
Allocation |
$20,100 |
$18,100 |
$2,000 |
|
Total Expenditures |
$411,000 |
$299,700 |
$111,300 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues over (under) Expenditures |
$469 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fund Balance 7/1/2023 |
$67,409 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Committed Expenditures |
|
PO3149 H&K |
($8,006) |
|
|
|
PO3466 (Crime Light) |
($12,160) |
|
|
|
CIP EQ0222 (Mobile Field Force) |
($17,000) |
|
|
|
PO3506 (Munitions) |
($20,000) |
|
|
|
Total Committed Expenditures |
($57,166) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Funds Available for other uses |
$10,243 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fund Balance 6/30/2024 |
$10,712 |
|
|
Prior Council Action: N/A
Other: N/A
Alternatives: Refuse the designated Grant money.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
Authorize and accept recommended expenditures for training, equipment, salary & benefits for 1.5 police officer positions through the State of California fiscal year 2023-2024 Citizens Option for Public Safety (COPS) Program Funds of $222,386 and $189,083 for fiscal year 2022-23 COPS Growth Funds for a total Grant $411,469, and appropriate $111,300.
end
Environmental Assessment Status: N/A
CEQA Review: N/A
Attachments: N/A