by Kathleen Lauro

Created on: July 25, 2010

On a state level, but with federal guidelines, our Governor Christ in Florida chose, in early 2008 to roll back property taxes quite a bit.  In the first place, all the statewide fire and police chiefs able to went to Tallahassee to bexplain to our not-so-bright Gov that in most city budgets, public safety (police and fire) do not MAKE any money, and make up an average of 50% of the budget.

Losing cops and firemen should be a last resort.  it wasn't in 2008.  Along with 4 police officers, 1 Parking officer, 1 record clerk, my administrative coordinator poistion with Criminal Investigaton Division (major crime) were the outcome of the first cuts.  Our HR Deparrtment, which was only two people for over 300 employees, lost its clerk of over 18 years, and leaving only the HR Director to handle all HR issues.

During that change, about 8 others were laid off at City Hall, in all departments more were sacrificed.  Everyone left was double dutied, with no relief in the near future.

Urgently needed ugrades to our PD software, computers, alarm system, reverse 911 payout to the county, and on and on, to say othing of the tripled price of ammunition reduced all progress, all movement toward accreditation, and the possible turnover of our radio crew to the County, already overburdened by absorbing dozens of cities PDs in order to crunch all the right numbers.

I was one of the casualties at my PD.  At 60, and having found a really wonderful reason to get up each day and help my Detective Sgt and my Detectives, and well as re-uniting the street force with our CID on better terms, with cake and candy and coffee gave me the greatest satisfaction I could have asked for, and nearly three years of pride in carrying my I.D. card from the SPBPD.  I displayed it at airports with my drivers license, and anywhere else I could.  It meant the world to me.  And then, I was cut

Eventually with the aid of my HR guy, a terrific human being, I was able to retire, and gain a litttle amount to add to our investments, which had been ravaged by over 50% during the bad days.  Those tax cuts, minor as they seemed, mean less park maintenance, less sewer workers, less Parking Enforcement Officers, meaning PD had to utilize vitally important time writing tickets, which took them from their more important neighborhood runs.

Our island is 6 miles long and had at the time of my employment 118 drinking establishments.  You do the math - an internation

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