Resident urges council not to outsource police, citing cost and service concerns

At tonight’s Upland City Council meeting, resident Jim Flock urged council members not to rush into budget cuts and questioned proposals to outsource police services to the county sheriff.

Flock said that while previous discussions suggested outsourcing could save $1,340,000, a startup cost of $2,500,000 would mean no net savings until the second year. He also cited a hypothetical eight-year total for a sheriff contract of $16,870,000 and said that, with a 5% annual increase compounded over eight years, that figure would grow to about $24,930,000. Flock contrasted those figures with what he described as the city’s current personnel budget of $21,700,000 and argued the council and the police union had not "fleeced" the city.

"Extra cutting will just upset those affected constituents and not come anywhere near what roads require," Flock said, urging the council to "follow your normal process and instincts." He also warned against relying on social media assertions that outsourcing automatically translates into savings.

The remarks were delivered during the public-comment period; the council did not take formal action on outsourcing during the meeting. No city staff presentation or fiscal analysis was offered in response during public comment.

Because Flock spoke as a member of the public, his figures represent his presentation to the council and were not introduced as a staff report or as an adopted fiscal analysis.