It's budget season with the Syracuse Common Council reviewing Mayor Walsh’s proposed $348.4 million budget. The Syracuse Police Department recently held its budget hearing.
Syracuse Police Chief Joe Cecile said the department is asking for $6.5 million for overtime pay, but notes the use of overtime can be unpredictable on a day-to-day basis. Although he’s optimistic with changes they’ve made to operations.
“I will tell you that the ten-hour day has dropped some of our major producers of overtime," Cecile said. "Minimum staffing, which is where we backfill officers when we have gaps in the shifts, has dropped substantially because of the ten-hour day.”
Councilor Corey Williams said he hasn’t been shy about being concerned about the long term viability of the city with a budget deficit of $27 million.
“If we need to find savings, we look at the biggest players, right?" Williams said. "What are the decisions that you’re making as a team to think about the long-term financial sustainability of our city? What advice would you give to the council, knowing that we need to manage the deficit, our future, and our public safety?”
Cecile was frank, saying officers face unimaginable circumstances and traumatic incidents every day.
“When you don’t have police out there, people die, they get injured, they get victimized, sexually assaulted," Cecile said. "All those things occur when you don’t have police out there.”
The police budget allots for 419 positions according to Cecile, but he notes staffing is currently about 388. But about 25 people are still in the police academy or completing field training and are not yet out on patrol. Additionally, the department anticipates several retirements.
The Common Council is set to vote on the city budget May 8.
