Maintaining Effective Services in an Era of Reduced Budgets

1
Washington State Patrol

• Maintaining Effective Services in an Era of
  Reduced Budgets
• John R. Batiste, Chief

2
The Washington State Patrol

• About 2400 Members split evenly between civilian
  and sworn
• 600 Troopers Patrolling Interstates and State
  Highways
• Professional staff formerly support-oriented
• Now provide many direct services

3
Non-Uniform Bureaus

• Washington State Crime Lab
• Fire Marshals Office
• Technical Services Bureau

4
Success!

• Nearly 50 fewer citizens died in traffic
  collisions in 2008 than in 2007.
• 520 vs. 568
• 2009 showing similar drop
• About half involve excess speed
• About 40 of collisions involve impairment

5
Recent Laws

• Non-endorsed Driver - Impound
• Hands-free Cellular Devices
• July 1, 2008
• No Text Messaging
• Jan. 1, 2008
• Felony DUI 5th DUI

6
WSU Traffic Stop Study

• No evidence of systemic racial profiling.
• Who gets stopped
• Who gets cited
• Who gets searched
• Use of force
• Went so far as to study racial makeup of drivers
  on specific roads.

7
WSU Customer Service Survey

• 82 of those who got tickets felt well-treated.

8
Daily Transparency

• Media Accessibility
• Accessible agencies are perceived as well-run
  agencies.
• The media helps those who help them produce their
  product.
• Taming the Media masters thesis.
• Image goes from good PIO to good agency.

9
Legislative Relations

• Year-round contact with legislators and staff.
• Summertime legislative tours.

10
Storm Clouds Gather

• Economy starts to slump
• Gas prices rise
• Home sales slow
• Spending drops
• Know your agencys source of revenue.
• Sales Tax (big mall)
• Property Tax ( bedroom community)
• State Patrol Highway Account

11
Make Yourself Hard to Cut

• Have the support of key players.
• Governor
• Legislature (city or county council)
• Media
• General public
• Must be in advance of the crisis.

12
Act Early

• Reduce discretionary spending before the bottom
  falls out.
• Try to control non-discretionary spending, such
  as fuel.
• Consider not filling vacancies.
• Make sure the boss knows youre doing this, so
  you arent asked to do more later.

13
Communicate

• With employees.
• They read the news.
• Become their source of info.
• Instead of that chronic complainer.
• With the boss.
• With those who control your budget.
• Its easy to cut what you dont understand.

14
Balance Conflicting Tactics

• Be ready to show what hurts.
• If you cut 22 million from your budget, somebody
  better notice.
• Manage public expectations.
• Be careful about whining in public.
• Dont communicate with direct audiences via the
  media.
• Dont trigger debate about what didnt get cut.

15
The WSP Experience

• Lost 74 FTEs.
• One involuntary layoff.
• Lost drug analysis for misdemeanors.
• Most agencies dont submit anyway.
• Lost License Fraud program
• Media editorialized for return.
• Reduction in Aviation flight hours.
• Kept aircraft.
• Still an award-winning program.

16
Questions?

• questions_at_wsp.wa.gov