Prop. 172 Funds Necessary for War on Crime : Ballot measure to extend state sales tax of one-half cent per $1 would mean about $1.5 billion a year for law enforcement agencies. If it fails, there will be layoffs and longer response time to emergency calls.

Criminal violence is on the rise. Carjacking, ATM holdups, drugs, gangs and street violence dominate the evening news.

These are repressible crimes, but law enforcement agencies need the money to field a full complement of officers and deputies. Without Proposition 172 and the funds it will provide for law enforcement, we may well lose the war on crime.

The ballot measure would extend a state sales tax of one-half cent per $1 and dedicate it to public safety by placing it in the Local Public Safety Fund. This would represent a clear and definitive action aimed directly against street crime.

This fund, about $1.5 billion a year statewide, will be distributed to counties for law police and sheriffs’ departments, firefighters and district attorneys.

Law enforcement has suffered funding cuts averaging more than 20% since 1990, largely the result of reductions in state support for local government. The 1993-1994 state budget cut local governments more than ever, a $2.6-billion shift in property taxes from counties to the state.

If Proposition 172 does not pass? The Sheriff’s Department budget could be cut by about $83 million. This translates to the layoff of at least 800 deputies and more than 250 non-sworn personnel as well as the closure of eight of 20 of our patrol stations and a 25% reduction of neighborhood patrols in the unincorporated areas.

Here are some likely results in and around the San Fernando Valley.

* The Sheriff’s Department will be forced to close at least two custody facilities in the north county area at the Pitchess Honor Rancho, resulting in approximately 5,000 fewer jail beds.

* Both sworn officers and civilians will be laid off. Many recently hired personnel live in the San Fernando Valley.

* The 25% patrol reduction will affect unincorporated areas and cities contiguous to them: Lancaster, Palmdale, La Canada Flintridge, Santa Clarita and Lost Hills.

Cities with police departments will have to review their service. Emergency response and keeping officers on the street will probably come first, though longer response times are likely. You could expect to see fewer police officers on school campuses, in drug-awareness programs.

For three years, our sheriffs, police and district attorneys have been fighting a rising crime rate with declining resources. We simply cannot afford to lose another $1.5 billion. Our vote is the best weapon we have against crime right now.