When it comes to crime, Democrats are in danger of being mugged by reality

[gwb-trading]

Federal grants and city funding is two different things.

Yes -- and a combination of both make up the police budget -- and must be taken into account.

For example if the federal government eliminated a yearly grant then the local Durham police department would need to make the hard decision to fund the four positions out of local general funds or to let the officers go. The general fund police budget each year is built on the basis of what federal funds will be provided.

In the same way the county school system budget is built on funds coming from the federal government, state government, and local government. All three parts encompass the school budget. You don't just consider the local component to be the school budget -- and make claims about the overall school funding. If the local component goes up but the state & federal school budget components drop causing the overall budget to decrease -- you would not claim that the schools are not being defunded because the local budget went up. To do so would be absurd.

 

[userque]

Yes -- and a combination of both make up the police budget -- and must be taken into account.

To the question as to whether the city chose to defund the police, you have to look at the city's budget. The city council doesn't control Federal grant monies.

 

[ipatent]

The city council doesn't control Federal grant monies.

They have the discretion to make up the difference. Again, how much was Durham paying for public safety before the string of Federal supplementation?

 

[Tony Stark]

Yes -- and a combination of both make up the police budget -- and must be taken into account.

No,it doesnt.Only an idiot would think that lower federal grant money is defunding the police

 

[Tony Stark]

Again, how much was Durham paying for public safety before the string of Federal supplementation?

For Durham PD more and more every year.

 

[ipatent]

For Durham PD more and more every year.

They never decreased their contribution when the Federal money was flowing?

 

[gwb-trading]

No,you dont.Only an idiot would think that lower federal grant money is defunding the police

So let's say the Durham County school system increases its local funding from $20 million to $25 million. However the state reduced their funding of local schools from $25 million to $10 million. And the federal government reduced their funding of the local schools from $10 million to $5 million.

This means the total school budget this year is $35 million. Last year it was $55 million.

Are you telling me the local schools have not been defunded because the local component of the budget increased by 25%?

Let me know.

And by the way how are you going to tell all the teachers you are firing that the schools have not been defunded.

 

[Tony Stark]

They never decreased their contribution when the Federal money was flowing?

The city gave Durham PD more and more money every year.You can verify that with the links to the budget GWB provided

 

[Tony Stark]

So let's say the Durham County school system increases its local funding from $20 million to $25 million. However the state reduced their funding of local schools from $25 million to $10 million. And the federal government reduced their funding of the local schools from $10 million to $5 million.

This means the total school budget this year is $35 million. Last year it was $55 million.

Are you telling me the local schools have not been defunded because the local component of the budget increased by 25%?

Let me know.

And by the way how are you going to tell all the teachers you are firing that the schools have not been defunded.

Lets say the city of Durham gave Durham PD more and more money every year.You can verify that with the links to the budget that you provided.

 

[gwb-trading]

The city gave Durham PD more and more money every year.You can verify that with the links to the budget GWB provided

Here is the information for the earlier years.

2011
General Fund
$49,282,952
613 FTEs
Grant Funds: $1,152,620
16 FTEs

2012
$52,687,229
631 FTEs
Grant Funds: $1,177,251

2013
General Fund: $52,933,983
616 FTEs
Grant Funds: $1,667,251
16 FTEs

2014
General Fund: $54,104,265
633 FTEs
Grant Funds: $1,584,611
0 FTEs

2015
General Fund: $54,622,490
637 FTEs
Grant Funds: $1,532,638
0 FTEs

2016
General Fund: $57,797,159
656 FTEs
Grant Funds: $1,422,919
0 FTEs

2017
General Fund: $60,620,469
656 FTEs
Grant Funds: $1,235,757
16 FTEs

2018
General Fund: $64,135,010
656 FTEs
Grant Funds: $1,235,757
16 FTEs


But let me reiterate -- the budget for a police department, school system or any other government entity consists of the budgeted money from all sources.

Note that police departments (and other entities) can turn down federal money. For example Durham turned down money for the federal 287(g) program used to deport illegal immigrants. So the local governments do have a choice in determining whether to use local, state or federal funds to finance operations of many government entities run by local governments. The city can effectively defund the police by rejecting the federal grants as well -- they don't need to defund by only limiting local money.