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City, county to increase police presence
By Chris Beattie, cbeattie@starlocalnews.com
McKinney and Collin County this week approved their respective budgets for fiscal year 2013, with which both will increase law enforcement in the area.
The county approved a combined $259 million budget, about $5 million less than the past year's budget. And the McKinney City Council approved a balanced budget of $89.8 million in FY 2013 revenues and expenditures.
Both budgets varied from their original proposals because of added positions, specifically more law enforcement officials. The county will add two sheriff's deputies at a cost of about $217,000, and the city will fund five new police officers, bringing its FY 2013 additional personnel total to 20.5 positions.
Box said then he'd like for the county to add three deputies each year until it reaches 50 patrolling officers, enough for one for every 1,300 to 1,500 people. Monika Arris, county budget director, had proposed adding an environmental deputy and a technical analyst, but Box asked the commissioners for patrolling deputies.
The commissioners on Monday granted his request and approved a budget that includes the two additional deputies, which give the county 38 patrolling officers. A Prosper resident spoke in favor of additional law enforcement during Monday's meeting, and asked that the commissioners consider adding more courtroom security, as well.
The county also approved FY 2013 elected official salaries, which call for no increase in compensation; and a property tax rate of 24 cents per $100 taxable value, which will amount to $524 a year for the average Collin County home.
McKinney city staff members voiced similar law enforcement concerns in their reaction to the initial budget proposal. Only two police-related positions were first proposed for the FY 2013 budget - a crime scene technician and property room public safety officer - and neither would were for patrol. Mayor Brian Loughmiller and city council members in recent weeks expressed to City Manager Jason Gray their desire for more officers on the streets.
On Tuesday, they approved a budget that includes the two non-patrol positions and five patrolling officers. Gray said recognition of the attrition that typically occurs each year provided the basis for funding more officers.
But many of those officers aren't happy with the proposed increase in the price of their benefits, said Tom Mackrey, president of the McKinney Police Association. He told Gray and the council that Tuesday was the first time many officers realized the increase. Gray told Mackrey that it had been discussed for several months, and that police officers' pay and benefits were in line with the current market.
"We had a big increase last year, and again this year," Mackrey told the council. "What may not seem like a lot of money to some people is an exorbitant amount of money to others...For some people, their children are not going to be going to extracurricular activities; some people are going to have to make changes to their lifestyle just to remain employees of the city of McKinney."
Gray said the city had settled on a maximum of about $720 a year, which would equate to, under the maximum plan, officers paying an increase of $35 per paycheck.
The additional officers, which may not be hired for several weeks, will bring the city's police department to 164 sworn officers, and allows the city to maintain a ratio of about one officer for every 1,000 people.
Remaining personnel additions include supplemental staff for the city's human resources, information technology (IT), fire, library and parks maintenance departments, as originally proposed Aug. 3.
"This is the first year in several that we have been in a position financially to be able to propose some additional positions," Gray said. "As you know, the community has continued to grow even through the downturn in the economy, and over the past at least four years, we've not had any additional positions."
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