MelissaNoriega.com :: Melissa Noriega for Houston City Council, At Large Pos. 3

City Expects to Spend Additional $52 Million on Public Safety

Mayor Bill White Announces Added Resources for Police, Public Safety

Oct 2, 2007

Mayor Bill White today announced that, consistent with Proposition H approved by more than a three-to-one majority of Houston voters last year, the City expects to spend an additional estimated $52 million on public safety.

"Violent Crime is down, but we are never satisfied," said Mayor White. "Voters for Proposition H last year said they wanted to increase public safety. With this plan we will do just that. We will have more officers on the streets fighting crime."

The plan includes:

• $24 million in overtime, starting now through the end of FY2010. This funding will allow the City more than half a million extra Houston Police Department hours.

• Approximately 190 additional police officers, from three Academy classes added to the four already planned in the next fiscal year. When combined with new Academy classes last year and this year, along with next year’s classes previously planned, the City expects to have increased the number of uniformed officers on the force by well over 500. That will be more than a 10% increase in HPD personnel over the next three years.

• In the next nine months the City will implement a program to permanently replace with civilian jailers 78 police officers now serving on jail duty. This will result in more uniformed officers being available for patrol and investigations.

• The City also will proceed with a outstanding Request for Proposal for a new Citywide radio system, which will cost in excess of $100 million. Radios for first responders, including police, fire and EMS, will be among the first to be replaced.

Because of Houston’s strong economy, the City can direct these resources to public safety without a tax increase, in accordance with Proposition H, approved by voters last year.
These enhancements in service will take place, as the Administration continues to practice responsible fiscal management.

In each of the adopted budgets during Mayor White’s administration, the rate for property taxation has been decreased, while the senior exemption has increased, providing taxpayers approximately $66 million in tax relief.