Oakland is stuck between a cop and an arts space.  Last night the City Council held a second special meeting to address the city's unprecedented $42.6 million budget gap for the 2010-2011 fiscal year.

The fiscal elephant in the room -- police compensation and possible layoffs -- was discussed at length, but council took no specific action on this contentious issue last night. However, they did agree to delay cuts to the Oakland Museum, since the museum is negotiating a public-private partnership that could brighten its financial future...

Before any proposals were brought up by Council members, it was clear that difficult choices must be made. This was acknowledged by the leaders and representatives of the Neighborhood Services Coordinators (NSC), Children's Fairyland, various local cultural and arts organizations, as well as property owners, all of whom came to speak out against deep grant cuts and proposed taxes. 

What Council voted on last night

Despite disagreements over whether or not to impose layoffs on the Oakland Police Department, the following motion was passed with five council members in favor of:

• Adopting the mayor's proposed cuts with exceptions.
• Giving the Museum of Oakland time to negotiate a private-public partnership.
• Postponing putting the Kaiser Center up for sale, in order to better assess how to negotiate that deal (if they eventually decide to sell)
• Working on ballot language to be brought back in June along with a list of cuts to be made if the ballot initiative fails.

If balancing the coming year's budget wasn't enough, District 2's Patricia Kernighan was adamant about considering the next fiscal year while making decisions now.

"If you don't bring back a budget for the year after next, you guys are crazy and irresponsible," said Kernighan, emphasizing the importance of considering longer-term impacts of current fiscal decisions.

Why police salaries, layoffs are such touchy issues

The motion (which took considerable wrangling to simply clarify enough for a vote) did not include any cuts to the Oakland Police Dept. The main reason for this is that triggers included in Measure Y would mean any immediate layoffs would be substantial -- upwards of 190 layoffs, out of a total police force of about 800 officers.

Nevertheless, some council members said it does not make sense to impose deep cuts to services and organizations without touching the police and fire departments -- which comprise 75-80% of total city budget.

Council President Jane Brunner disagreed, stressing that compromising public safety would detract business from the city -- which would in turn decrease sales tax revenue.  

District 3's Nancy Nadel proposed looking closer at the OPD's disproportionate salary ranges, as an alternative to cop layoffs.

Oakland cops get paid pretty well, compared to other cities. Nadel's memo for the Apr. 29 meeting compared starting salaries and average career compensation for police in several cities in CA and throughout the US.

The starting salary for an Oakland police officer is $71,841. In contrast, cop starting salaries range $42,000-55,000 in Los Angeles, Long Beach, Baltimore, Boston and New York City -- all cities with a similar or higher cost of living.  

Furthermore, Oakland police officers do not contribute to their retirement fund. Other city employees (including the fire department) pay 9% of their retirement contributions.

...Why weren't Oakland Fire Department cuts discussed? Kernighan noted that "the Oakland Fire Department was pretty clever a few years ago" by not being included in Measure Y. Also, that union's current contract requires mandatory full staffing.  

Tax talk

Special taxes on the ballot -- especially a parcel tax that would help pay for police services -- must pass by a 2/3 voter majority. Council members unanimously consider that to be a long shot.

Several council members seemed more optimistic about passing a general tax (collecting funds for unspecified uses), which would only need a 51% voter majority to pass.

However, Brunner was skeptical about the political feasibility of a general tax passing in Oakland. She pointed out that there is a significant lack of trust in government among voters, and "...although a general tax is easier to pass, it would certainly be a harder sell."  

Voter trust has been affected heavily by the debated appropriation of Measure Y funds, and Mayor Ron Dellums' failure to take a promised pay cut.

The next meeting to discuss closing the budget gap is planned for June.

(Oakland Local senior editor Amy Gahran contributed to the reporting at this meeting.)