Independent Audit of City’s Financial Situation to be released to Media & Public by Chula Vista Police Officers’ Association

The Chula Vista Police Officers’ Association (CVPOA) along with Peter Donohue, PhD in Economics and expert in government finances, will release the findings of an independent study of the City of Chula Vista’s overall financial condition to the media and to the public during a press conference, followed shortly by a public forum.

Both events will be held on Wednesday, December 22, 2010.

The public forum is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 22, 2010 at the Civic Center Library Auditorium, located at 365 F Street in Chula Vista.

Donohue completed an exhaustive analysis of Chula Vista’s overall financial condition.  The analysis was based on the city’s audited annual financial reports and sheds light on Chula Vista’s available financial resources.

The Chula Vista Police Officers Association (CVPOA) in cooperation with Donohue will present his findings to the members of the public during the forum.

“This important report illuminates significant resources the city may have to resolve its budget deficit without drastically reducing critical city services like public safety,” said CVPOA President Fred Rowbotham.

Donohue and representatives of the CVPOA will be on hand to answer questions after the public forum. The report in its entirety will be provided to the media in hard copy and electronic formats.

The Chula Vista Police Department is facing the elimination of nearly 20 percent of its staff in January. Thirty-two officers are anticipating layoffs and 12 additional vacant positions are on the chopping block.

If the positions are eliminated, the Chula Vista Police Department will be forced to reduce investigations, decrease DUI enforcement, decrease patrols in high-crime areas by 50 percent, as well as eliminate the School Resource Officer Program, meaning there will no longer be cops stationed at local schools. Also, residents will experience longer response times.

City Manager Jim Sandoval insists the layoffs are necessary to balance the projected $12.5M budget shortfall citywide for the 2011-2012 fiscal year.

In the City of Chula Vista, current staffing equates to 0.97 officers per capita, the lowest in San Diego County. The Chula Vista Police Department is also the least funded when compared to other local governments. The City of Chula Vista spends fewer dollars per resident than every other city in the area. In fact, the next lowest city spends 24 percent more and Chula Vista’s closest neighbor, National City, spends 70 percent more on law enforcement services.