Agenda Item Wording:
title
Authorization to accept recommended COPS Grant expenditures - Authorize and accept recommended expenditures for training, equipment, salary, and benefits for 1.5 police officer positions through the State of California fiscal year 2024-2025 Citizens Option for Public Safety (COPS) Program funds of $223,196 and $210,518 for fiscal year 2023-24 COPS Growth funds for a total grant of $433,714 and appropriate $33,714 the grant fund.
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Deadline for Action: 12/16/2024
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 2024-2025 Citizens Option for Public Safety (COPS) Program funds of $223,196 and $210,518 for fiscal year 2023-24 COPS Growth funds for a total grant of $433,714 and appropriate $33,714.
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 section 30061 to 30063 regulates the funding.
The City of Visalia was allocated a total of $433,714 and 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 will use the funds for training, equipment, and other front line law enforcement services. In addition to the salary and benefits, the Department will purchase a new covert camera system for the Special Enforcement Bureau (SEB) which will replace a system that is 20 years old. The Department will also utilize funding to provide first-line supervisor training to department supervisory staff.
Background Discussion:
In FY 2024/25 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.
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Citizens Option for Public Safety (COPS) 631 Fund Activity |
|
FY 2024-25 |
Current Budget |
Budget Adjustment |
|
Revenue State COPS Funds FY 24/25 |
$433,714 |
$400,000 |
$33,714 |
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Expenditures Salary & Benefits (Includes OT) Operating SEU Surveillance Camera System (Replacement) Sight System (Increase Budget EQ0231) Executive Training Allocations Total Expenditures |
$342,200 $3,000 $14,000 $3,000 $10,000 $12,400_ $384,600 |
$310,900 $3,000 - - - $12,400_ $326,300 |
$31,300 - $14,000 $3,000 $10,000 -______ $58,300 |
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Revenues over (under) Expenditures |
$49,114 |
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Fund Balance 7/1/2024 |
$47,374 |
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Committed Expenditures |
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CIP EQ0200 H&K (Balance of Project) |
($10,334) |
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CIP EQ0222 (Mobile Field Force) |
($7,725) |
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CIP EQ0231 (Slight System) |
($72,000) |
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Total Committed Expenditures |
($90,059) |
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Funds available for other users |
($42,685) |
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Fund Balance 6/30/2025 |
$6,429 |
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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 the recommended expenditures for training, equipment, salary, & benefits for 1.5 police officer positions through the State of California fiscal year 2024-25 Citizens Option for Public Safety (COPS) Program funds of $223,196 and $210,518 for fiscal year 2023-24 COPS Growth funds for a total Grant of $443,714 and appropriate $33,714 from the grant fund.
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Environmental Assessment Status: N/A
CEQA Review: N/A
Attachments: N/A