Auditor dissects policing plan

LONG BEACH, MISSISSIPPI


WILL OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS MAKE 
THE RIGHT DECISION FOR THE TAXPAYERS 

Savings predicted to be about $50,000 less than sheriff's figures

 
STEVEN A. McCALEB
103 ALVERADO DRIVE
LONG BEACH, MISSISSIPPI 39560
PHONE & FAX: (228)-868-8428
E-MAIL: mccaleb5thdist@aol.com
WEB SITE: www.mississippiwebsite.com

L.B. police problems outlined




By KRISTEN TREADWELL
THE SUN HERALD

Friday, August 18, 2006

 

I would like to ask the citizens of Long Beach, Mississippi to ask there 
alderman to vote "Yes" on having Sheriff Payne take over our police
department.

Long Beach is always looking for ways to reduce the tax burden on its taxpayers
and this would be a very large improvement.

Proposal highlights

Harrison County Sheriff George Payne says Long Beach will save roughly $715,000 a year if the county takes over the city's policing. Some highlights from the proposal:

Personnel: Payne says the county can do the job with 18 fewer people. Most of the savings would come by eliminating high-ranking officers and clerical personnel. However, the sheriff's proposal calls for 13 patrol officers while Long Beach has 16.

Operations: The sheriff's proposal promises to save $194,000 in operating expenses. For example, Payne says uniforms would cost half as much, office supplies would cost a third as much and electricity would cost an eighth as much.

Capital outlays: Payne proposes to save $79,000 on purchases of vehicles and other equipment. Of the savings, $60,000 would come by eliminating the need to purchase new computers; the Sheriff's Department already has them.

 

LONG BEACH - City auditor Jerry Favre met with the mayor and Board of Aldermen on Friday night to discuss Sheriff George Payne's proposal to provide policing in Long Beach and eliminate the city's Police Department.

I, vote yes, let’s remove our X-Police Chief's and gain taxpayers money back.

Even the Police Department members themselves need to understand why the voters and taxpayers want a change.

Some revisions were made to the original proposal, which Payne said would save the city roughly $646,000.

This sounds like a good plan too me, and I hope the citizens of Long Beach also believe it's a good plan.

The revised proposal, developed by the Harrison County Sheriff's Department, shows a savings of about $715,000. But Favre said the number is closer to $666,000 when the savings are figured using a revised police budget.

I believe any savings is a leap of success to the taxpayers of Long Beach, $666,000 sounds great too me.

For example, the adopted budget included interim Police Chief Mark Dunston's salary, which is $19,000 more than the amount in the revised budget for a new police chief, Favre said.

I don't quite understand the $19,000 amount concerning past police chief Mark Dunston.

Is Long Beach still paying him for his interim position as police chief?

Aldermen asked questions about line items on the proposal, but Favre said the biggest area of savings would be in personnel expenditures.

Now it's getting to the meat of the proposal, and the reason for approving the transition to have Sheriff Payne take over our police department.

But will our Mayor and Aldermen have the guts to approve such action, or will Long beach stay a "good ole boy town."

"That's where you're going to make an impact," he said. "We can nickel and dime it all night long, but that's not going to come up with the money."

The citizens of Long Beach have been nickel and dime to death for many years, now is the time for change.

Let's not allow our elected officials vote for what is in favor for them, and ask they support the citizens, taxpayers, and voters of Long Beach.

Aldermen weren't concerned just about finances. Several had questions about how a contract with the county might affect future administrations, and said they were concerned with how citizens felt about the proposal.

I can tell them how this citizen feels about the proposal.

I would like for my Alderman, "Ward 6", Richard Bennett, to vote yes on having our police department be operated by Sheriff Payne.

"It's the people's department," said Alderman Richard Bennett. "It's a big issue. It's not to be taken lightly or fast."

I agree whole-heartedly with Alderman Bennett except for the part about "fast".
 It's not to be taken lightly or fast." 

I believe this action should happen in a matter of days and not weeks, months, or years.

If they fail to act as soon as possible, I am afraid nothing will be changed and the issue will once again stay as it is now.

The proposal will be discussed at Tuesday night's Board of Aldermen meeting.

But will anything constructive come of the meeting, I fear their will not.

Let's not, "postpone" or "stalemate," progress for the citizens of Long Beach.

Kristen Treadwell can be reached at 896-2331 or at ktreadwell@sunherald.com.

STEVEN A. McCALEB
COMMENTARY
MY OPINION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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December 2, 2001