There are strong arguments to be made for increasing the size of the Vancouver Police Department. According to city officials, the department has 23 fewer positions than it had before 2009, the city’s population has grown, and calls to 9-1-1 have increased by about 10 percent since 2013.
The math is simple: More residents and fewer police officers and support staff do not add up to improved safety for citizens. Because of that, we believe the Vancouver City Council was wise to approve additional funding for the department with the goal of adding 61 positions by 2020.
Admittedly, there is skepticism about the decision, because additional funding means additional taxes and fees — which always should be approached with caution. The council approved a package that garners money from: Marijuana taxes; federal COPS Grant funding; a proposed Van Mall North annexation; a business license surcharge; an increase to the tax on city-owned utilities; a surcharge on multifamily housing units; and a surcharge on retail, commercial, and industrial space. It is expected to generate $5.1 million in 2017 and grow to $12.5 million by 2020.
Undoubtedly, the economy has improved since the Great Recession led to a reduction in city budgets and a reduction in the police force. More money is available for providing essential services that enhance the quality of life throughout the region. But it is equally true that the economic recovery has not benefitted all residents, and any increase to taxes or fees will be a difficult burden for many to bear.
With the city also dealing with the pressing issues of homelessness and a lack of affordable housing — and with voters having approved a property tax levy in November to facilitate such housing — this is a difficult time to dig deeper into the pockets of taxpayers. The council-approved plan will, for example, hit business owners with an additional $20 surcharge for each full-time employee, and it will hit families with an increase to their utility fees.
The question then becomes a matter of priorities and the benefits to be culled from an increase in police services. Improved policing, improved safety, and reduced crime rates can have benefits that extend beyond the obvious for residents. A safe community can be an important economic driver in attracting businesses and families to the area, and it can reduce the expenses that accompany crime such as damage repair and rising insurance costs.
So, yes, there are strong reasons for increasing funding for the Vancouver Police Department. But there also are reasons to question whether the addition of 61 positions is overly indulgent. Last year, the department added 12 positions through temporary funding; the council approved making those spots permanent while adding an additional 34 sworn officers and 15 civilian positions. That will give the department 232 officers and 62.5 civilian positions.
In approving the plan, council members followed the recommendations of a 20-person Community Resource Team — civic leaders, business representatives, and neighborhood representatives — which convened last spring to study policing levels and issued a report in December. While the best available information demonstrates the need for 61 new positions, it also will be important for city officials to support that need moving forward.
Being good stewards of taxpayer money requires that you frequently reexamine expenditures to ensure they are having the desired effect. That can go a long way toward mitigating the skepticism of the public.
