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City officials outline public-safety budget priorities as bureaus track overtime reductions
Summary
Deputy City Administrator Mike Myers and public-safety bureau leaders described recent operational gains — lower 911 wait times, falling overtime at fire and emergency communications, and progress on crime reduction — while warning of recurring structural cost pressures as the council begins budget review.
Deputy City Administrator Mike Myers told the Portland City Council on April 16 that the public-safety service area has seen operational gains but faces continuing cost pressure as council begins its budget work sessions. Myers, who oversees the public-safety service area, briefed councilors on the budgets and performance of the Bureau of Emergency Communications, Portland Police Bureau, Portland Fire & Rescue and related programs.
Myers said he was “very proud” of the Bureau of Emergency Communications and its director Bob Kazi for lowering 911 call-answer times. “They have brought that call answering time down very close to the 20 seconds, 95 percent of the time that is the national standard,” Myers said.
Why it matters: Council is preparing for the mayor’s proposed budget and needs to weigh both rising baseline personnel costs and pockets of operational improvement. Bureau leaders told councilors recent investments and management changes have produced…
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