VACP SURVEY RESULTS: Further 599 budget cuts could lead to layoffs and reduced police services
January 27, 2010 | VACP
Some Virginia police departments could be forced to lay off police officers or discontinue some programs if state budget cuts continue to reduce state aid to localities with police departments.
In a survey conducted by the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police, local police chiefs were asked this week how proposed cuts to so-called 599 funding, or State Aid to Localities with Police Departments, were affecting their agencies.
When asked how further cuts in 599 funding would impact their departments, 83% of the chiefs responded that they will be making cutbacks in the purchase of needed equipment, such as communications systems and replacement of worn-out patrol cars. Eighty-two percent (82%) reported that they will have to cut even more out of their training budgets, and 56% reported that they may have to lay off police officers. Some Virginia police chiefs responded that they will have to cut back or eliminate certain programs, such as school resource officers, crime prevention programs, school crossing guards, community policing programs and animal control officers.
Despite reported crime rate reductions in recent years, more than 64% of police chiefs report that their communities have experienced an increase in certain types of crime in the past six months. Fifty-eight percent (58%) of Virginia police chiefs reported an increase in residential burglaries, and 45% of the chiefs reported an increase in domestic violence crimes. Increases are also reported in business burglaries, drug trafficking and armed robberies.
“Several of the police chiefs responded that the types of crimes they are seeing in their communities are changing, with more reports of larcenies, thefts, shoplifting and alcohol-related offenses,” said Dana Schrad, Executive Director of the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police.
The proposed cuts to 599 funding would have the greatest impact on the smaller police departments that depend on a higher percentage of 599 funds in their budgets. However, even the largest agencies report that they would have to lay off officers and eliminate certain police services to absorb the proposed cuts.
The following comments were provided by chiefs who participated in the survey:
- “My jurisdiction continues to grow in population, but new police positions have been frozen. Any further cutbacks could affect response times and our community’s safety in general.
- “I would likely have to eliminate approximately 60 sworn positions.”
- “Further funding cuts will limit the amount of overtime officers are allowed to work, which will have a direct impact on investigations, and will drastically impact our ability to maintain and upgrade our technology.”
- “Further cuts to 599 funding will likely spell certain doom for the future of small agencies across the state.”
- “Currently, we struggle to answer the call volume in our jurisdiction and I could not imagine attempting to serve our community effectively with fewer officers on the streets.”
Ms. Dana Schrad, Executive Director
Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police
Mobile: 804-338-9512
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