Federal Government Guarantees Fifty Police

10 TV: The government announced on Tuesday that the city will receive nearly $13 million in federal stimulus money to save police jobs. The money comes as the city faces a budget shortfall that could force the layoffs of nearly 300 officers…

The $12.7 million in grant money is enough to fund entry-level salaries and benefits for 50 officers for three years. On Tuesday, voters will decide whether to raise the city's income tax. The city said the hike is needed to save the jobs of hundreds of police and firefighters.

Supporters of Issue 1 said that while the grant money is great for the police department, it makes their job harder. If passed, the city income tax would increase from 2 percent to 2.5 percent. It is a tough sell for voters… "That's $150 a year that could be my kid's baseball season, his uniform, school supplies," said Kirsten Kinder, who is undecided on the issue.

Supporters of the issue said that the grant isn't enough to solve the city's budget woes, but may be enough to sway skeptical voters. "Now that I know $13 million is coming, I don't know," Kinder said.

"We appreciate the money we get from the federal government, but it doesn't solve the long-term problem," White said. "It sounds like a lot, but $4.2 million over three years is not a lot when you consider we have a large budget deficit we're trying to plug. In safety alone it's $40 million. The overall deficit is $115 million."

The city said would likely wait until voters go to the polls before deciding how to use the money, whether it will be hiring new officers or keeping officers who would otherwise be laid off.