TAMPA — Police officials said Wednesday they're cutting 36 civilian jobs to trim their 2010 budget by $1.85 million.
Four employees were told their last day would be in 90 days, while 29 others will get one-year contract extensions, paid for with federal grant money, said Assistant Chief Bob Guidara. After that, only stimulus money or another federal grant would allow the city to keep them.
Also three vacant posts — a crime scene technician, a data terminal operator and a training specialist — were eliminated.
"We don't anticipate any other personnel reductions for 2010," Guidara said.
The grant will pay 11 investigative assistants, 10 police community service and eight public service officers for the fiscal year of 2010.
Guidara said although the department doesn't currently have a savings target, management is exploring a litany of ways to be more efficient. Cost-cutting ideas include reducing aviation patrol hours, standardizing uniforms and eliminating uniforms for support employees, and buying office supplies in bulk.
With government budgets shrinking, "it's absolutely essential that we make the adjustments maintain the highest level of public safety," he explained.
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