A proposal to cut law enforcement services will go before the Stanton City Council when it meets on Tuesday evening.
Staggering under a large projected deficit, the council earlier directed city staff to come back with recommendations to reduce public safety costs, which make up over 70 percent of the municipal budget.
Stanton contracts with Orange County Sheriff’s Department for police services, and with the Orange County Fire Authority for fire and paramedic service.
The council wants to trim $1.4 from police services, but a recommendation to be presented Tuesday would reduce costs only by $637,653. The Orange County Sheriff is recommending that the new budget eliminate one investigator ($215,088), one administrative deputy ($206,518), one motor deputy ($211,492) and a partial reduction of duty by a motor sergeant ($4,555).
“All three of the positions identified, although essential to a professional and responsive operation, are not emergency responders,” according to a staff report.
The reduction would not necessarily mean a net reduction of $637,653, since the elimination of a motor officer is considered likely to cut $100,000 in traffic ticket revenue that would have gone into the city’s general fund.
Currently, Stanton is served by 24 deputies. In order to get the announced cut of $1.4 million, seven deputy positions would have to be eliminated.
An additional $400,000 in cuts for fire protection services are also sought.
Stanton’s financial problems started with the Great Recession and have been worsened by the state’s end to redevelopment. A failed ballot measure to increase the city’s utility tax by 2.5 percent has also contributed to the crisis.
The council meets at 6:30 p.m. at 7800 Katella Ave.
