Rybak's budget plan to call for 18 more police officers

Updated: September 24, 2007 - 4:42 PM

The mayor says public safety remains the top budgetary priority in his 2008 proposal, to be presented today.

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Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak.

Photo: Jim Gehrz, Star Tribune

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Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak's 2008 budget proposal today will call for adding 18 police officers in a spending plan that the mayor said will keep public safety first among city priorities.

Rybak also said he'll propose devoting more money to fighting gang graffiti, truancy and curfew violations, youth violence, and for buses to transport inner-city kids to community programs.

The mayor said in an interview that his proposal will raise public safety spending from $192 million to $200 million, for about a 4 percent increase. That includes money for policing, firefighting, emergency functions and other safety programs. Much of that money will go to the police department for 18 officers. Four more people will be added to get 911 calls answered more quickly. Rybak said he'll also beef up spending for precinct-based, community-focused prosecutors.

Rybak has been criticized by political foes for not hiring up to the budgeted strength of 893 officers. But he has said that because he's converted some positions to civilian jobs, the authorized strength for uniformed police is now 864. The force had 853 officers last week.

He said he wants to spend $100,000 for a City Hall-based curfew truancy center with prevention programs, reserve $100,000 for forthcoming recommendations from a youth violence committee and earmark $150,000 for the circulator bus.

Another $150,000 would fund small community-initiated programs to fight gang graffiti. He also wants money to continue the efforts of two outreach workers to deal with homeless people.

State cuts in local government aid have been felt most sharply in the city's road and bridge programs. Rybak said $6 million should be spent over the next five years to repair city-owned bridges. The City Council will vote on the budget in December.

STEVE BRANDT

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