Sources of Revenue
The police department accounts for 21% of the county’s budget. There are various ways the budget is funded to ensure the department continues to serve as required. Property tax is based on an assessment and is paid by everyone who owns land. The county executive officers prepare the budget showing how much the county is supposed to spend for all purposes. The executives estimate the amount of state and federal aid and other revenues that will be available and the balance is derived from property taxes.
The New York state constitution sets a limit on the amount raised by property tax for county purposes. The limit is 1.5% of the full market value of taxable real estate averaged over the last five years. The sales tax allows the state of New York to levy statewide sales tax of 4 percent, and it permits the local government to levy additional sales taxes too. The additional sales taxes are for specific purposes and may also be used in other programs such as for the police department. The county government is financed almost entirely by property taxes, federal and states and usually around 50%, or more are covered with state and federal aid. The responsibilities have increased although the state and federal share of meeting the cost have decreased which have left the local government to raise taxes to cover the cost of the increased responsibilities. The county has, therefore, found it necessary to increase revenues by increasing sales tax (Suffolk County Government, 2014). Other sources of revenue for the county come from off-track betting, motor vehicle fees, and repayments of social services, county clerk fees and others from bank interests, licenses, and permits.
Policies
The attorney’s office for the eastern district of New York announced that the Suffolk Police Department implemented new and enhanced policies and procedures to ensure nondiscrimination in the provisions of police services to the Latino communities in Suffolk County. The agreement is meant to ensure that the police department’s policies are equitable, respectful, and free of unlawful bias. It also included enhanced training and investigation of allegations of hate crimes and bias incidents. The agreement is meant to ensure meaningful access to police services for individuals with Limited English Proficiency. The government is meant to monitor the department’s compliance with all the agreement’s requirements (Department of Justice, 2013).
On 2011 September, the government passed the police reform and social responsibility act. The act had a legislation that replaced police authorities with elected Police and Crime Commissioners. It means a significant shift in power to one person who will represent the entire policing area. It is meant to provide stronger and more transparent accountability of the police. The Police and Crime Commissioners are meant to be elected by the public to ensure the police are answerable to the communities they serve. The Suffolk County police Department was formed so as to reduce the duplication of services among police departments in the five western towns and their villages. The centralization immediately improved communication and standardization (Waveney District Council, 2014).
Mission of the Budget
The Suffolk County Police Department works to preserve the public peace, prevent crime, detect and arrest offenders, protect the rights of persons and property and enforce all the laws and ordinances applicable in the County. The mission of the department is to enforce the law and public service through partnership with the community. The department is a progressive organization that is committed to fostering a healthy community. The budget is meant to ensure application of advanced technology and the provision of innovative training. The department is striving to retain and recruit personnel that are well informed, service oriented and that embrace the ideals of integrity and honor (Suffolk Virginia Police Department, 2014).
There have been an additional 1 million dollars per year for three years for East End police departments. The department has for long been shorted when it comes to their shares of sales tax revenue that is meant for police funding and a disproportionate amount of sales tax that is meant to go to Western Suffolk police. It ensures that while the Suffolk town is served by the Suffolk County Police Department, the five East end towns are served by individual departments. They ensure the community is well served and protected at all times (Dans Papers, 2014).
Suffolk County is one of the 62 counties in New York on the Eastern portion of Long Island. The county ensures that it publishes the budgeted documents to enhance transparency with the community. The meeting agendas, schedules, and officials’ contact information are all made available. Once a budget year is complete, the county releases the contracts, bids, and proposals. The people can see how well the money they have contributed in taxes has been used. They can choose to focus on their areas of concerns, for instance, the health department or the police department. Over the years, the budget in the police department has increased but this is as a result of required revenue and resources to serve and protect the people in the community. So far, there have been no complaints about how the money has been utilized, and the people have relied on their police department more for security.
References
Dans Papers. (2014, November 10). Five Ways the New Suffolk County Budget Benefits the East End. Retrieved from http://danspapers.com/2014/11/five-ways-the-new-suffolk-county-budget-benefits-the-east-end/
Suffolk County Government. (2014). Financing County Government the Office Budget and Management. Retrieved from http://www.suffolkcountyny.gov/Departments/CountyExecutive/BudgetandManagement.aspx
Suffolk Virginia Police Department. (2014). Mission and Vision Statements. Retrieved from http://www.suffolkva.us/spd/inside/mission/
Waveney District Council. (2014). Suffolk Police and Crime Commissioner. Retrieved from http://www.waveney.gov.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=812&categoryID=200030
