Budget season
You could say this is budget season. La Habra Heights approved its budget Monday. Pico Rivera approves its on Tuesday and we had stories on both.
In Saturday's paper, we'll have stories about La Mirada, Santa Fe Springs and Whittier approving their budgets. You could say that it's tough times for all of them. At least La Mirada has a surplus, but City Manager Tom Robinson can't be happy watching it shrink to practically nothing over the last two months. Santa Fe Springs has a $300,000 deficit, but its officials hope its city employees will help make that up with salary give-backs. Whittier will just dip into its reserves for about $700,000.
You can just say it's a sign of the times.
Mr Sprague, I heard that La Mirada is looking to contract with Whittier PD. Do you have any info on that or have you heard the rumors?? Thanks
Let me start by including this quote from Hal Malkin in a recent story.
"If they totally reject the contract provisions, possibly then we have to start looking elsewhere," he said. "We have to have Plan B in place. Plan B would be looking for other departments to contract with."
So the answer is right now to my knowledge the city isn't looking for a contract. But that could change should negotiations between the 40 contract cities and LA Country break down. Here's a link to a story written by Alfred Lee on that issue:
http://www.whittierdailynews.com/rds_search/ci_12706517?IADID=Search-www.whittierdailynews.com-www.whittierdailynews.com
Also know that in 1997, La Mirada officials paid for a feasibility study on contracting for police services with Whittier. At the end, a decision was made to stay with the sheriff's. So in the end I would say keep watching. This is a situation that could change. We'll do our best to report on whatever happens.