Mayor Bob Filner proposed a bigger budget for Police and Fire Departments for 2014.
Leaders in public safety arena say this is a very welcome change.
The City Council today dedicated the morning to public safety and heard about their pressing and long-term needs. And council members were supportive knowing that the mayor has proposed an $18.6 million dollar budget increase for the fire department.
The money will likely go toward eliminating furloughs and rehiring fire fighters to fill positions that have been empty during recent years.
The police department will also get a boost of $4.6 million in 2014. The funds will likely go toward increasing police academy training for new hires.
Both fire and police officials say employees leaving San Diego for better pay elsewhere is a major long-term problem.
But they say the Mayor and City Council are being supportive.
“I had to cut the budget for 5 years every year,” said SDPD Chief William Lansdowne. “This is the first time I didn’t have to do that that I can remember. There is certainly a significant appreciation for what we do and there's the commitment to try to make it work.”
City Council member Marti Emerald says the money will help departments create savings in other areas and can hopefully create long term solutions.
Photo Credit: Eric S. Page