“Gaston police chief chooses computers over officers” |
| Gaston police chief chooses computers over officers Posted: 27 May 2010 02:55 PM PDT Belmont Police want updated computer software. Belmont Fire wants a rescue boat for water rescues. Street crews want more pickup trucks. Those are just some of the wish list requests Belmont City Council heard from city departments at its budget workshop this week. Police Chief David James wants new computer software that will keep officers in the field and allow easy access to data. "Our biggest need at the Police Department now is technology," James said. "We're behind the curve." The current software being used is 10 years old, he said. Officers writing up reports have to drive to the department to submit those reports, reducing their patrolling time. To be more effective, police need to have better tools, he said. It would cost Belmont nearly $200,000 — $43,155 a year in a five-year loan with 5.8 percent interest — for the software and computer server. James says the need for technology is so great that police won't ask for more police officers in the next three years if the department gets its technology request, he said. A rescue boat would help the Belmont Fire Department save lives when dealing with a water rescue, said Fire Chief Buck Altice. "We're on the bank and we end up commandeering a citizen's boat," Altice said. Even if Belmont Fire comes to the scene of a drowning or water rescue first, firefighters must call in Mount Holly or Mecklenburg to perform a water rescue because Belmont lacks a rescue boat, Altice said. A rescue raft that can be taken apart and reassembled would cost $26,500, according to the department's request. Utilities Director Chuck Flowers said vehicles were the biggest need for the street maintenance and water and sewer departments. "Right now we've got some aging vehicles in our fleet," Flowers said. The city's proposed budget for the 2010-2011 fiscal year is almost $8 million, a 1 percent increase from this year's budget. Expenditures in the general fund were also expected to increase by 1 percent. The tax rate won't change from 47.5 cents per $100 valuation. Property values were expected to increase about 3 percent based on information from the Gaston County Tax Office. The proposed budget doesn't provide for a cost-of-living adjustment or merit pay increases for city workers. Health insurance rates are expected to increase 17.3 percent next year. To offset increases, City Manager Barry Webb proposes eliminating the short-term disability policy, saving $17,000. The policy wasn't often used and worker's compensation covers on-the-job incidents that result in short-term disability, Webb wrote in memo to the mayor and City Council. Police and fire are the only two departments whose budget proposals request more money than they received last year. Belmont Police Department's proposed budget shows an increase of 0.65 percent. Belmont Fire Department's proposed budget shows an increase of 6.86 percent. City residents will have a chance to give their input when the recommended budget is formally presented June 7. The council will meet at 5 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall for another budget workshop. You can reach Amanda Memrick at 704-869-1839. |
| You are subscribed to email updates from Content Keyword RSS To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
0 comments:
Post a Comment