Commission OKs $770-Million Budget Proposal for LAPD

The Los Angeles Police Commission approved a proposed budget Tuesday for fiscal year 1996-1997 that calls for nearly a 16% increase over the current year’s spending for the Los Angeles Police Department. If approved by the City Council, the new LAPD budget would be more than $770 million.

Most of the expected spending increases stem from the city’s Public Safety Plan, which is intended to deploy 710 new patrol officers next year, as Mayor Richard Riordan has requested. Nearly 250 more civilian support staffers, more high-tech equipment, and small salary increases for officers and civilian employees were also proposed.

The staff increases and a redeployment of 133 officers from desk duty to patrol cars make the changes in the planned budget “staggering,” Commissioner Art Mattox said.

Neither city budget officials nor the mayor have yet examined the budget proposal in detail. “Although public safety is our No. 1 priority,” said mayoral spokeswoman Noelia Rodriguez, “the reality is that as a city we are facing a $200-million budget deficit. We anticipate increasing the Police Department’s budget, but at this point it’s too early to tell.”

If approved, the proposed budget would call for a 4.5% salary increase for uniformed LAPD employees and a 4% increase for civilian workers.