Update from the Mayor – July 15, 2005

July 15, 2005

News from Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak

PUTTING MORE COPS ON THE STREET

Today I announced that my 2006 budget will strengthen the Minneapolis Police Department with 60 new police officers. These 60 new cops will be funded through a combination of partially restored State Local Government Aid along with city revenue earned by my commitment to paying down debt in previous years. Police Chief McManus and I announced that as many as 20 of these 60 new officers will begin as soon as August 1, bringing an almost immediate impact to every police precinct throughout Minneapolis.

This infusion of new police officers will bring the Department’s number of officers to a higher level than it was in 2001 when I was elected. By next year, we will have 592 officers on the street, compared with 562 in 2001.

As you all know, the reason the number of officers dropped over the past few years is the loss of the federally funded "Clinton" cops combined with the devastating hit of $49 million dollars cut from the City’s budget by the State in 2003-04.

History of LGA Funding Cuts

$29.6 million

Annual cut in LGA funding to City in 2005, following cuts of $28 million in 2004 and $21 million in 2003*

*These totals reflect the amount of LGA that goes to City of Minneapolis departments. They do not reflect the share of the Park and Library boards in LGA funding cuts over this same period.

This week the Governor and Legislature restored $6.2 million of the $29.6 million State cuts that were proposed this year. In addition to this state funding, my commitment to paying down debt in past budgets has resulted in savings of $1.5 million, which I promised to dedicate to public safety and I will.

How Minneapolis Will Hire 60 Additional Police Officers

$1.5 million

City budget capacity due to paying off $15 million in debt during 2005

$6.2 million

Restoration of LGA funding starting in 2006, which will be allocated for public safety, including $5.3 million to hire additional police officers

$6.8 million

One-time LGA payment (not ongoing) in 2006, which will be dedicated to paying down police pension debt

Our years of fiscal discipline have shown results. As Mayor, I have led reform in the face of significant budget challenges and delivered four years of balanced budgets while also paying down debt. This wise fiscal management not only allows us to hire more cops today, it ensures that the cops we put on the street will stay on the street because there is money to pay them in coming years. These are permanent police staff increases, not a temporary solution.

I deeply understand the impact crime has on the city because I spend an extraordinary amount of time in neighborhoods with residents discussing solutions. Minneapolis faces few challenges as complex as crime. We must continue to work together as a community to express zero tolerance for crime of any kind. This is not just about those most directly affected, it’s about all of us.

In the coming weeks I will be announcing more strategies in my 2006 budget and the shared values they represent for a new Minneapolis. My first budget announcement is about public safety because it has been priority #1 during my time as Mayor and I wanted you to know that our efforts to get more cops on the street have paid off.

Published Jul. 15, 2005