Three cheers for San Carlos California for starting to face the reality that unions are sucking the city dry. It's not a done deal yet, but San Carlos considers outsourcing police duties.

The city of San Carlos, facing a multimillion-dollar budget deficit brought on by the recession and rising employee costs, is considering a money-saving measure that is all but unheard of in the Bay Area - dissolving its Police Department and outsourcing the job of law enforcement.

After 85 years of having its own police force, supporters of the idea say, it's time for San Carlos to hand the job either to the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office or to neighboring Redwood City to eliminate nearly two-thirds of next year's $3.5 million deficit.

San Carlos is not a high-intensity policing assignment. The number of violent crimes in an average year is 27, and there have been only three homicides in the city of 28,000 over the past decade.

In May, the San Carlos City Council held a special session to review policing proposals by the sheriff's office and Redwood City police. The city is expected to decide this month whether to disband the force and select one of the agencies.

"We have two attractive offers from two professional organizations," said Mayor Randy Royce, who believes the city should scrap its force. "I am just elated to have two great proposals. We can't go wrong either way."

Can't Go Wrong

I concur with Mayor Randy Royce. My only question for Royce is "What took you so long?"

I am still waiting for some major city like San Diego, or LA to decide the same thing.

Taxpayers will kiss you.

Mike "Mish" Shedlock
http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com
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