In mid-April, the P-6 Committee made the decision to grant funding for a School Resources Officer at the Discovery Bay Elementary School in a unanimous vote. Now, it appears the Sheriff office is agreeing with the recommendation, however, he is asking the School Board to step up.
In a letter from Contra Costa County Sheriff David Livingston dated May 15, 2013 he confirmed the P-6 recommendation, however, is seeking $50,000 from the school district while issuing a warning that they need to create a long term funding source.
Here is a look at his letter.
The cost for a top step Deputy Sheriff (salary & benefits) for FY 2013/2014 is $223,953.07. The cost for an SRO for the nine month school year will be $167,964.
Last year, the School District committed to paying $50,000 towards the SRO position; the same commitment would be necessary this fiscal year. Based on the nine month school year, the Office of the Sheriff will allocate $117,964 from the CSA P-6 CAB Fund. In the event the School District is unable to come up with their share of the funding, the SRO would only be assigned to the School District for approximately six and a half months.
It is also important for the School District be aware that this is a short-term funding solution and it would not be prudent for me to commit to approving this amount from P-6 on a yearly basis. I strongly encourage the School District to aggressively identify a more stable and long-term funding source to sustain the SRO position
So there you have it, no more 11th hour decisions like the one that just occurred in April and its time get serious pretty quickly or lose the resource officer for good. Since this letter was issued May 15, the community may want to begin asking what actions have taken place in the days following because the budget figure is locked in on July 1, 2013.
The School Board and some within the community says its a priority to keep the school resource officer, but the actions have been lacking.
This years its $50,000, but the following years the School District is forced to come up with $167,000 on a reoccurring basis to keep the officer in place for 9-months out of the year.
So while these little fundraisers are nice and a feel good story, long-term its not a sustainable option or even legal to donate funds towards salary. The School Board and community stakeholders need to get serious and consider a parcel tax to fund the position.
The P-6 Committee had been funding a majority of the position over the past three years and this was to be the last year any funding would be granted.
Either way, Sheriff David Livingston has put the Discovery Bay community on notice and the clock is ticking.
8 comments
No more free rides is the message. It’s discovery bay, not antioch. that money is better put in another town within contra costa county.
Hey burke, how much was raised from the spaghetti fundraiser? Why have we never seen that figure. I am curious as to why they have kept it a secret. If this is true, we need a new board who will actually protect the position instead of letting others do the heavy lifting in terms of funding.
How about ALL of Discovery Bay starts contributing to the P-6 fund instead of just Discovery Bay West? The position benefits BOTH Discovery Bay Elementary and Timber Point, shouldn’t all of us contribute?
If the funds from the fundraiser cannot be used for salary then I believe they need to be returned. The fundraiser was supposed to “save the SRO”
@Franks P6 funds are generated by the “return to source” method of taxation. That means taxes taken from a specific place must be used for services in said place.
@K.Green If all of Discovery Bay were to pay into the P6 it would generate enough money to fund 24/7 coverage of Resident Deputies. It seems prudent and pragmatic for the community, as a whole, to due this. But I believe when brought to a vote Discovery Bay Proper voted no.
That shows how delusional Discovery Bay Proper is. They have always felt they had no problems. Obviously they think the kids from the “other” Discovery Bay, the wrong side of the tracks so to speak cause all the problems. They really need to look in the mirror and see the truth about their kids.
If the School District and Parents want a SRO, then let them pay the whole thing, why should the Sheriffs office pay for a portion along with P6?
[…] Here is a look at his May letter. […]
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