Denver’s police department must slice almost $24 million from its operations next year, which could mean more than 100 jobs will be cut, according to an e-mail sent Wednesday by the city’s budget office.
All city departments must pare about 10 percent from their 2012 budgets to close an estimated $100 million gap in the general fund.
Denver’s largest department is police, with 1,660 employees, including uniformed and non-uniformed personnel.
The “savings target” for police is $23.8 million, with an employee reduction target of about 100, according to an e-mail sent by the city’s Budget Office.
“The mayor’s office is asking managers to prioritize programs and identify opportunities for savings now to allow as much time as possible for this difficult work, to minimize the impact of layoffs on employees,” the e-mail said.
Reductions could include closing vacant positions, reducing administrative functions, not buying new equipment or looking for other efficiencies, said Ed Scholz, the city’s budget officer.
“There are options inside of the police department … that may mean no layoffs,” Scholz said. “They may come up with options that we only need to cut 50 positions.”
The budget process began for the city last month, two months earlier than it usually begins as officials hope the early start will help department heads find ways to blunt the severity of the cuts.
“The way you do that is by collecting ideas from people,” Scholz said. “In the end, after analyzing some get implemented and some don’t.”
Mayor Guillermo “Bill” Vidal, whose term ends in July, is hoping to come up with ideas to help the incoming administration that must submit a budget to City Council by September with approval by November.
Scholz’s analysis says the fire department would have to cut about $10.4 million with an employee reduction of 20 and the Sheriff’s Office would have to cut about $8.9 million with an employee reduction of 20.
Public Works would have to cut $9.4 million with a reduction of about 50 positions, Parks and Recreation would have to cut $4.2 million with a reduction of 30 positions and Budget and Finance anticipates a cut of $3.6 million and 25 positions.
Over the past three years, the city has faced $346 million in budget shortfalls – gaps filled through temporary fixes such as furloughs, delaying the replacement of equipment and vehicles and not holding recruit classes for new police officers.
“The low-hanging fruit is gone,” Scholz said. “It will be more difficult this time around. But I am encouraged. People are being creative.”
Scholz, who is head of his department, is looking at closing vacant positions, deferring the purchase of equipment and reexamining contracts to get better pricing.
“Its definitely difficult,” he said. “I am confident citywide we will be able to do it. We are getting started so early. If the revenue picture improves, it may be less. The $100 million is a worst-case scenario.
Jeremy P. Meyer: 303-954-1367 or jpmeyer@denverpost.com
