Keller's new Metro budget reflects 13.4 percent jump

A $240 million budget request to carry Metro Police into the new millennium promises to add 49 new civilian positions to the department, boost efforts to apprehend criminals targeting tourists and reduce service-related wait times with more operators and a nonemergency 311 line.

Fiscal year 1999-2000 also would see the third-year complement of 110 new officers, their necessary equipment and 50 patrol cars hit the streets as part of the law enforcement ballot issue approved by voters in 1996.

The request reflects a 13.4 percent increase over FY1998-99's $212 million budget, resulting in part from insurance, retirement and approximately $17 million needed to cover increasing salary costs.

The $240 million budget would be split between several sources.

A predetermined funding formula calls for the city of Las Vegas paying $73.6 million and the county supplying $100.4 million. More than $60 million would be supplied by self-generated revenues, including money derived from real and personal property tax, fingerprint fees and court pay. A $5 million contract with the Department of Aviation for police services at the airport will offset that unit's costs.

"Each year we have a theme for our budget," Sheriff Jerry Keller said while presenting the budget request to Metro's Committee on Fiscal Affairs for review Tuesday. The proposal will be formally submitted to the committee for approval in March, and then will be sent to the city and county for approval later in the spring.

"This year's budget theme is essential tools," Keller said, explaining that the department's employees in planning their budgets were asked to look beyond issues of law and order to quality of life -- "what officers and civilian employees need to do their jobs safely and efficiently."

"This budget request reflects a balance between responsible and accountable use of public resources and the needs for police services in this fast growing and dynamic community," Keller said.

He said the past fiscal year's budget contributed to an overall reduction in crime in the Las Vegas Valley, including the dismantling of 288 methamphetamine labs, a 15 percent drop in tourist-related incidents and the success of the "John School" for people caught soliciting prostitutes. The school, he said, averages 35-40 students a class since it started a year ago and has had only one repeat offender in 12 sessions.

The 1998 budget also funded the department's first mounted patrol unit, established in the fall, which made its official debut on the streets in late November and rescued a woman about to deliver a child in the crowd on New Year's Eve, Keller said.

The requested budget for FY 1999-2000 includes more computers as well technology and operators for a new 311 nonemergency line.

Lois Roethel, the department's comptroller, said the 49 additional civilian positions include three investigative specialists, three crime analysts, four radio shop employees to install and maintain vehicle communications and signal equipment, various clerical support personnel and 20 communications operators for whom space will be available when the new communications center opens in February 2000.

What appeared on the November 1996 ballot as Question 19 won voter approval, granting Metro the chance to phase in 450 officers and 200 patrol cars within five years.

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