Baltimore County Police Chief James Johnson defended his 2009 budget Tuesday from potential cuts as lawmakers struggle to find $4 million to fund a pay raise for more than 1,000 officers.
Lawmakers could shave more than $300,000 from County Executive Jim Smith?s proposed spending plan by budgeting more for police turnover, according to county auditors.
But Johnson told legislators the past two police recruiting classes have been the smallest in a decade, and said recent overtime costs ran him $500,000 over budget.
“With the current economic climate, we are simply not seeing the departures we have seen, frankly, over the past four or five years,” Johnson said. “I simply do not expect departures.”
Johnson told lawmakers that a new retirement option included in the benefits package awarded to the county?s police union by an arbitrator could encourage officers to retire sooner than later. Smith was legally bound to include the $4 million award in his budget, but is urging members of the council to remove it.
If the council ? which can remove items from the budget but not add to it ? decides to fund the award, members must identify equivalent cuts to avoid exceeding a spending cap.
During budget hearings over the past two weeks, Council Chairman Kevin Kamenetz frequently has reminded his colleagues to look for potential savings. Last week, he suggested eliminating the
county?s annual waterfront festival.
“I?m just looking to fund the police arbitration,” the Pikesville Democrat said. “Ten thousand here, 10,000 there, you never know.”
Johnson also urged no cuts to his travel and equipment maintenance budgets.
The council is expected to deliberate on cuts Thursday and adopt a final budget May 22.
