Wildomar Chops Police Service By Nearly Half

Wildomar City Council agreed Wednesday night to cut more than $1.8 million in expenditures from the city’s 2011-12 fiscal-year budget, with the lion’s share -- $1,540,000 million – lopped from public safety.

The cuts were necessary after Governor Brown signed into law last month as part of the state’s budget package. The bill slashed revenues that cities derive from vehicle license fees. Wildomar, like other municipalities, was blindsided by Sacramento and has since been

Public safety is typically the biggest expenditure for any city. Prior to the cut, Wildomar was contracted to spend approximately $3.8 million this year for police services.

The $1.5 million chop to the law enforcement budget means Wildomar will see slower police response times, especially on lower priority calls, said Capt. Dave Fontneau, Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

“There will be a lot less officers on the street,” he said.

Before the cut, the city saw 72 hours of dedicated police service every day from the sheriff’s department, but now that will drop to 40 hours of service per day.

“It’s an unfortunate situation – no one wants to do this. But we will do our best to maintain public safety,” Fontneau said. 

Emergency situations will be covered, the captain said.

“We can pull in additional officers, but the city will be billed,” he explained.

However, special teams, such SWAT or Hostage Negotiations, are built into the contract and will not be billed separately, Fontneau added.

The ratio of officers per 1,000 residents – a standard measurement in public safety – was not available Wednesday night.

The reduction in law enforcement services was negotiated by staff and Riverside County Sheriff’s Department officials prior to Wednesday night’s meeting, according to City Manager Frank Oviedo.

A small handful of Wildomar residents spoke out against the public safety slice.

“I am very opposed to the massive cut in police services,” said Wildomar resident Martha Bridges. “I really feel you took a hacksaw to public safety.”

Besides law enforcement, the planning commission was also on the chopping block Wednesday. Staff had proposed rolling the commission’s duties over to city council to save $4,000 in stipends this year, but a handful of residents and several council members objected and the commission was spared.

Besides law enforcement, the biggest annual savings -- $65,000 -- will come as two city departments close one extra day per week. Planning and Building, along with Code Enforcement, will no longer be working on Fridays.

Staff and the elected officials all made concessions Wednesday night. City Manager Frank Oviedo will see the biggest salary reduction this fiscal year with a $17,600 cut through furlough days. Mayor Marsha Swanson already donates her $300-a-month stipend back to city coffers, and Councilman Bob Cashman offered to forgo his health insurance benefits immediately for a $12,000 savings to the city. Swanson said she would also give up her medical coverage in October when she turns 65.

During the meeting, former Wildomar City Councilwoman Sheryl Ade spoke out against stripping councilmember stipends. The council agreed and said that elected officials could forgo the compensation, but only on a voluntary basis.

To reduce legal fees, the city will hold just one council meeting per month for a $16,400 savings this year.

Other cost-cutting measures this year include staff's renegotiation of contract bill rates to save $30,662, and life insurance for all departments was eliminated for a $15,000 savings.

The city was able to save $29,000 in fire services costs as a result of recent revisions to the state budget. Wildomar contracts its fire protection through Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department.

In addition to these savings, nearly $100,000 was lopped from various other budget line items, ranging from unused medical benefits to accounting service hours.

In total, the 2011-12 fiscal-year budget was slashed $1,823,000, or approximately 22 percent.