As the City Council carefully examines the budget for the next fiscal year, now more than ever, the LAPD needs to watch where every dollar of its budget is going. We are watching, too. Especially when the City contracts with companies and consultants at the same time it is furloughing civilian personnel.One such action by the Board of Police Commissioners that caught our eye earlier this year was a $1.1 million contract extension awarded to Kennedy Court Reporters. The agreement covers court reporter services until October to transcribe audiotapes during criminal and administrative investigations, and record administrative disciplinary proceedings for sworn personnel, meetings of the Board of Police Commissioners and its subcommittees.

A Washington politician once remarked: “A million here, a million there. Pretty soon you are talking real money.” So it goes in Los Angeles these days. That’s why we’re watching any and all requests to buy services from outside the city. In the interest of being frugal with tax dollars and avoiding city worker furloughs, we think city personnel should be given the first opportunity to perform such work, rather than turning to expensive outside contractors.