Gardena Budgets Extra Services but No New Taxes

Gardena will be getting eight additional police officers, three more firefighters and a new ambulance under the 1990-91 budget approved this week by the City Council.

The funds for the extra services come from a projected increase in sales tax and card club revenues and will not require any added taxes, City Manager Kenneth Landau said. The $38.8-million budget for the fiscal year beginning next month represents an 8.5% increase over last year. Revenue projections are based partly on new commercial development in the city.

The added police officers will enable the city to staff another patrol car 24 hours a day throughout the year, Police Chief Richard Propster told the council Tuesday night. Propster said the additional staffing is needed because of the city’s rising crime rates, citing a 53% increase in violent crime, a 75% increase in robberies and a 31% increase in residential burglaries during the first five months of 1990 compared to the similar period last year.

In actual numbers, violent crimes committed during this year’s first five months totaled 423, compared to 276 for the same period last year; robberies totaled 293, compared to 167, and burglaries totaled 242, compared to 184, according to police.

Increased gang activity and drug trafficking have contributed to the rise in crime rates, Propster said.

Last year, the council set 100 sworn officers as a goal for the city. The city currently has 92 officers, and the new budget will bring the the department up to the targeted strength. “Our intention is to make uniformed policemen more visible and increase the public’s perception of security,” Propster said. The department’s current ratio of 1.9 police officers for every 1,000 citizens is higher than that of any other South Bay-area city, he said.

The new budget also enlarges the Fire Department by creating a second paramedic unit. The decision to buy a new ambulance and fund additional firefighter positions was prompted by fears that Gardena Memorial Hospital would close its emergency room, officials said.

Although the hospital decided to keep its emergency room open, the City Council reasoned that a second paramedic unit would reduce response times and also act as a safeguard in case the hospital reversed itself, Fire Chief Anthony Bero said. Since April, the department has operated temporary second paramedic unit, using an old standby ambulance and partially staffing it with firefighters working overtime.

GARDENA BUDGET The city of Gardena’s budget for its new fiscal year projects healthy growth in tax revenues, part of which is to finance the hiring of eight new police officers.

Category 1989-90 1990-91 % Budget Budget Change Total City $36.5 $38.8 8.3% million million Public Safety $12.8 $13.6 6.3% million million