Shirley Franklin’s next test: Paying for more cops

Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin sought support Wednesday for a proposal to raise property taxes this year to fund hiring 200 police officers.

Reaction to the mayor’s idea from some city council members, who must approve any property tax rate increase, was mixed.

At-Large Councilman H. Lamar Willis, who represents the entire city, said in an interview Wednesday that a property tax increase is the best available option to come up with the money to hire the needed police officers.

“The mayor is probably right. You are probably going to have to raise taxes and I think it’s going to have to call for stronger fiscal management on our part,” said Willis, who complained the police department overspent its budget by about $10 million during the fiscal year that ended June 30.

Councilman C.T. Martin said during the council’s finance/executive committee meeting Wednesday that “it’s virtually impractical” to hire and train 200 officers in basically six months. Martin has pushed for several years for the city to hire that many officers.

Councilwoman Carla Smith, whose district includes Grant Park, where bartender John Henderson was shot and killed last week, said “if we have to do a tax hike, then we’ll take a look at that.”

Henderson’s killing sparked a groundswell of complaints and pleas from residents who live in that area for more police protection. While many city dwellers worry Atlanta is becoming more dangerous, police say that violent crime dropped by 9 percent in 2008, compared to 2007. Property crimes, specifically house and car break-ins, are on the rise, Atlanta police say.

Overall, crime in Atlanta rose by 4 to 5 percent in 2008 compared to the previous year, according to Atlanta police.

Franklin has estimated it would cost at least $20 million to hire, train and equip 200 officers. The police department currently has 1,633 sworn police officers and 79 recruits who are on track to becoming officers, said Sgt. Lisa Keyes, a police spokeswoman.

All of the officers, however, were furloughed by Franklin late last month and are working 10 percent less due to an ongoing city budget crisis. The city council is scheduled to vote on a resolution next week to end the furloughs for police officers and firefighters. Franklin has questioned how the council will fund their plan.

“Show me the money,” the mayor said.

Martin said during Wednesday’s City Council finance/executive committee meeting that the city budget has sufficient money and the city should not have to cut work hours for public safety officers.

“It’s up to you all to find the money,” he told finance officials.

Franklin said in a speech at the Atlanta Press Club Tuesday that her goal is to have 2,000 police officers on the force at the end of the year, when her term expires.

Later Tuesday, International Brotherhood of Police Officers Local 623 president Scott Kreher laughed at the idea and said it’s implausible for the city to hire and train several hundred officers by Dec. 31.

Franklin responded by writing a letter to Kreher on Wednesday.

“You chose to make fun of the idea and not give serious consideration to the changes we’ve implemented in the last seven years,” wrote Franklin, who took office in January 2002. “Your comments may lead the public to believe you don’t think the goal is laudable whether it is achieved partially this year or next year.”

Kreher, however, did not reply to several telephone calls and text messages on Wednesday.