* Warning: This is an unofficial, introductory copy of the bill.
The official copy considered by the City Council is the first reader copy.
Introductory*
City of Baltimore
Council Bill R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Pinkett
A Resolution Entitled
A Council Resolution concerning
title
Budget Oversight Hearings for Baltimore City Police Department
For the purpose of calling for monthly budget oversight hearings for the Baltimore Police Department regarding staffing, payroll, and overtime to improve transparency and accountability in the allocation of more than $500 million in public funding for the vital task of protecting Baltimore’s residents.
body
Recitals
Whereas, In Ordinance of Estimates for Fiscal Year 2019, the Baltimore City Council approved an appropriation of $509,618,142 to the Baltimore Police Department.
Whereas, The City Council has been asked to approve a $21 million Supplemental General Fund Appropriation to cover costs associated with the Baltimore Police Department’s overtime in Fiscal Year 2018.
Whereas, The City Council has been presented with no indication that the Baltimore
Police Department has instituted any controls on the main drivers of its annual budget
increases.
Whereas, A large driver of The Baltimore Police Department’s budget increases is overtime costs. An audit of police overtime for Fiscal Year 2017 is pending, and the Council has yet to see the results of that audit.
Whereas, Public safety is one of our most important tasks and responsibilities. It requires and deserves the mobilization of vast resources from all levels of government and the private sector. It also requires and deserves transparency and accountability in the process of allocating those resources.
Whereas, The annual police budget process does not provide accurate projections for the Baltimore Police Departments actual annual expenditures.
Whereas, The current process includes only a quarterly review, after the expenditure of funds.
Whereas, Monthly hearings would allow Councilmembers to review more frequently and address problems more proactively.
Now, Therefore,
Be it Resolved by the City Council of Baltimore, That the Council calls for monthly budget oversight hearings for the Baltimore City Police Department to improve transparency and accountability.
And Be it Further Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the Commissioner of the Baltimore City Police Department, the Chair of the Community Oversight Taskforce Commissioners, and the Mayor’s Legislative Liaison to the City Council.