BALDWIN PARK - The city is looking into options to outsource its police functions to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department after a 3-2 vote Monday.
The vote took place following a presentation on city finances that is projecting a $1 million deficit in its $23.5 million budget for the current fiscal year, however city officials say it's the longterm challenges posed by pension and retiree medical benefits that have them concerned.
Councilmembers Marlen Garcia, Monica Garcia and Manuel Lozano voted to have city staff explore the pros and cons of outsourcing its public safety department, while Ricardo Pacheco and Susan Rubio voted against analyzing that possibility.
"The City Council has made public safety its biggest priority," according to a staff report. "While the focus on public safety has resulted in a safer community, the costs to do so have also increased significantly every year partly because of increased retirement costs."
According to the report, 85 percent of increased personnel expenses are attributable to the city's police department.
The city council unanimously agreed to have administrators look into several other cost-saving options, including outsourcing various city department functions and introducing a tax measure, however councilmembers limited that option to a public safety special tax.
The information on the cost-saving options will come back to the City Council in the next 60 to 90 days, city officials said.
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