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Committee continues violence-prevention appropriation to allow further budget detail while endorsing juvenile probation priorities
Summary
The committee continued an ordinance appropriating roughly $2.0 million from the general fund reserve for violence-prevention programs — including juvenile probation positions and DCYF contracts — and approved an amendment to move probation funds to the Department of Children, Youth, and Their Families pending further analysis.
The Budget & Finance Committee continued consideration of an ordinance appropriating $2,000,174.07 of general fund reserve and juvenile probation/title IV‑E funds to support violence-prevention programs for FY02/2007, including six additional deputy probation officers, two juvenile counselors, and contracts administered by the Department of Children, Youth and Their Families.
Budget analyst Mr. Rose said departments requested additional time to provide finalized figures and that the controller’s office needed to double-check totals; he recommended continuing the item to the committee’s next meeting so the analyst can complete its review. The committee agreed to continue the item for two weeks.
Supervisor Dufty, a co-sponsor, and Chief Sifferman outlined how additional deputy probation officers would be used: three deputies would staff a specialized girls unit, three would reduce caseload sizes and allow geographic assignment to high-need neighborhoods, and an additional staffer would serve as a detention-alternatives coordinator to strengthen partnerships with community-based organizations.
Multiple public commenters from community organizations urged accountability and underscored the need for relationship-based prevention work. Richard Hopson of ACORN called for accountability and asked how services are reaching neighborhood residents; Sean Richards of Brothers Against Guns said his organization demonstrates outcomes and should be considered in funding decisions. The committee adopted an amendment to move the juvenile probation funds to the Department of Children, Youth and Their Families and continued the item for two weeks to allow more detailed budget verification.
