El Paso City Council Tackles Police, Fire Budgets

El Paso City Council took up the proposed police and fire department budgets during a hearing Wednesday.

Under City Manager Joyce Wilson’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2012, spending for the El Paso Fire Department would increase from roughly $89 million to $92 million.

El Paso Fire Chief Otto Drozd explained to city representatives that a chunk of the funding would go toward expanding the 311 call center, put together to handle non-emergency calls that can often tie up first responders.

Drozd said money would also go toward efforts to help make sure more El Paso homes have smoke detectors.

Because fire inspectors are not allowed in private homes, Drozd told council members he would like his department to work together with apartment managers by organizing “academies” for them.

“We can’t force our way into any private residence, but the apartment managers have the ability to make that part of their lease,” he said. “That is going to be one way for us to get into more homes.”

As for the El Paso Police Department, the proposed budget would increase total spending from approximately $114 million to $115 million.

But the budget also recommends the use of more one-man patrols to make the most of the department staffing.

During Wednesday’s hearing, government watchdog Lisa Turner questioned whether that would jeopardize officer safety.

City officials said there would most likely be safeguards in place, such as no one-man patrols in certain parts of the city and no rookies out on their own.

The budget hearings continue in city council chambers Thursday at 9 a.m.

El Paso City Council is expected to pass a final budget in August.