Sponsored message
Logged in as
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Subscribe
  • Listen Now Playing Listen

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

News

Police Union Submits 16 Ideas to Save LA Money

3184371856_6b1b7fa840_b.jpg
Photo by A.C. Thamer via the LAist Featured Photos pool on Flickr

One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.

The LAPD didn't get hit as hard as other departments in the City Council approved city budget, but the current plan does slow down hiring new officers. Now the Los Angeles Police Protective League has submitted their ideas to save the city money in order to get back on track of getting more officers on the streets. There are 16 in all, but some are not very specific to the department like installing wind and solar energy on government buildings. However, there are a few ideas that seem to have potential:

  • Have all three pension funds combine their administrative staffs for member services; examine using a single investment bank and actuary; negotiate fees with consultants; and examine all ways to reduce costs by using the same custodian, accountants and audit firms. We estimate that combining these services would save the city $60 million per year.
  • Ask the court to allow the City of Los Angeles to stop paying the federal monitor for overseeing the portions of the Consent Decree that have already been found to be in compliance. The LAPD has been in compliance with 95 percent of the Consent Decree requirements for five years, yet the city continues to pay over $2 million per year to the federal monitor, Kroll Inc.
  • Implement a 4/10 schedule for all non-public safety entities, closing offices on Mondays or Fridays. The State of Utah has implemented this schedule and experienced significant cost savings - for example, energy costs are reduced by not heating or cooling offices on closed days. In addition, traffic is reduced on those days, which would be particularly beneficial to the quality of life in Los Angeles.

Have any ideas of your own that the LAPD could do to save money?

One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.

You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.

If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief

Make your tax-deductible donation today