Civilian Staff Urged for Prevention Programs : Budget: Some officials say city could cut costs by replacing deputies in Neighborhood Watch and education programs.

A plan to cut costs by using civilians instead of sheriff’s deputies in Neighborhood Watch and drug education programs triggered a lengthy debate Tuesday at a City Council meeting on Palmdale’s proposed 1994-95 budget.

Parents and sheriff’s representatives argued that deputies should continue to staff these programs because of their experience with crime and the respect they usually command from elementary school children.

But some city officials maintained that civilians, including retired officers, could handle these programs adequately at half the cost.

“None of these recommendations are based on the quality of service” provided by deputies, said City Administrator Robert W. Toone Jr., whose staff urged that the programs be turned over to civilians. “It really comes down to choices and limited revenues.”

City Council members, who heard the arguments at Tuesday’s budget workshop, are expected to decide the fate of these programs at a meeting that begins at 7 p.m. tonight at City Hall, 708 E. Palmdale Blvd.

Responding to crime concerns raised by residents during the City Council campaign last spring, the council’s staff proposed boosting the city’s law enforcement budget to $8 million--an increase of $1.2 million from the previous fiscal year.

The city contracts with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for police protection, and the staff recommendation envisions that a large portion of the extra money would pay for three more one-deputy patrol cars operating 56 hours a week and 16 more hours of patrol coverage from a deputy in a fourth car.

To offset some of these expenses, the city staff proposed to withdraw deputies from neighborhood and business crime prevention programs and a program aimed at discouraging elementary school students from using illegal drugs.

Using deputies for these programs cost the city about $319,000 last year, Terry Stubbings, the city’s civilian community relations officer, told the council. Using civilians would cost $164,000--about half as much, she said.

But at Tuesday’s meeting, several deputies and parents told the council that civilians would not be familiar with current crime trends and would not make as strong an impression on students. “I do not support your staff’s recommendation,” said Capt. Tony Welch, commander of the Sheriff’s Antelope Valley station.

Mayor Jim Ledford argued, however, that the cost of using deputies appeared to be too high. “People demand services, yet the affordability is an issue,” he said.

The council is expected to make a decision on the law enforcement expenses tonight, prior to adopting a $28.7-million general fund budget for the new fiscal year.