It appears that the state spent an extra $8.6 million on
security during the 20 days when the nation was on heightened,
orange alert.
That rate of spending is three-to-six times higher than what the
state recorded during the last such alarm, when Gray Davis was
still governor.
It appears that the state spent an extra $8.6 million on security during the 20 days when the nation was on heightened, orange alert.
That rate of spending is three-to-six times higher than what the state recorded during the last such alarm, when Gray Davis was still governor.
What’s going on? In fact, there are two separate issues here. One is the actual cost of vigilance against terrorism, a cost that simply must be paid. The other is getting an accurate fix on spending practices within the Highway Patrol.
This security alert cast an unexpected spotlight on the CHP’s affairs. That light fell on pension and salary issues that the Davis administration, in its last budget, sought to conceal.
During heightened alert, CHP officers are detailed to watch buildings, bridges and other critical installations. But where the Davis administration said it cost $500,000 a week to deploy the CHP during alerts, the Schwarzenegger administration says it cost up to $428,000 a day. CHP Commissioner Spike Helmick now says the Davis administration was low-balling the number.
Why would it do that? Consider this: In February, the impartial legislative analyst’s office found that Gov. Davis’ budget proposal was understating the CHP’s needs by more than $100 million. The analyst’s examination of the shortage revealed this: In just three years, the state’s cost for staff benefits to the CHP had more than doubled – jumping from $110 million to $283 million.
Retirement costs had surged dramatically because of a 1999 agreement, approved by the Legislature and brokered by the governor’s office. Under the state’s memo of understanding with CHP uniformed personnel, the state was obligated to pay both the employer’s share of retirement, and employees’ contributions, too.
A booming stock market made that easy. But when the market tanked, the state’s costs exploded. In 2000-01, the state’s contribution to this retirement was $3 million. By 2002-03, it was $142 million.
Add in the expenses of workers’ compensation and previously negotiated raises in a contract running through 2005-06, and it costs a lot more to run the CHP than it did before 9-11.
Gov. Schwarzenegger needs to take a critical look at that. As long as the CHP is designated as first responder on homeland security alerts, Californians will be financing sweetheart deals for that security service.
