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APPLYING THE CONCEPTS OF PROGRAM BUDGETING TO THE NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT

NCJ Number
388
Author(s)
A J TENZER; J B BENTON
Date Published
1969
Length
57 pages
Annotation
PLANNING, PROGRAMMING & BUDGETING SYSTEM DESIGNED FOR NYCPD AS A PROGRAM-BUDGETING FORMAT, A COST ESTIMATING METHODOLOGY AND COMPUTERIZED COST-ESTIMATING MODEL.
Abstract
THIS MEMORANDUM PRESENTS THE RESULTS OF A NINE-MONTH EFFORT TO DEVELOP A PROGRAM-BUDGETING SYSTEM FOR THE NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT. AFTER BRIEFLY REVIEWING THE BASIC CONCEPTS OF PROGRAM BUDGETING, IT DESCRIBES IN DETAIL THE PROGRAM-BUDGET FORMAT DEVELOPED FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING NOT ONLY THE PROGRAM STRUCTURE AND THE COST STRUCTURE, BUT ALSO, THE TECHNIQUES DEVISED TO ESTIMATE THE COST OF POLICE PROGRAMS. FINALLY, THE MEMORANDUM PRESENTS A COMPUTERIZED COST MODEL FOR USE IN ANALYZING POLICE DEPARTMENT SERVICES. THE PROGRAM STRUCTURE DEVELOPED HERE CONSISTS OF FIVE MAJOR POLICE PROGRAMS -- CRIME PREVENTION AND CONTROL; INVESTIGATION AND APPREHENSION; TRAFFIC CONTROL; EMERGENCY SERVICES; AND SUPPORT. EACH IS DIVIDED INTO SUBPROGRAMS, WHICH, IN TURN, ARE BROKEN DOWN INTO FUNCTIONAL CATEGORIES CALLED PROGRAM ELEMENTS. THE RESULTING PROGRAM STRUCTURE -DEFINED IN TERMS OF THE CURRENT ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE DEPARTMENT -- IS PRESENTED IN ITS ENTIRETY. TWO MAJOR COST CATEGORIES, INVESTMENT COSTS AND ANNUAL OPERATING COSTS MAKE UP THE COST STRUCTURE. INVESTMENT COSTS ARE DIVIDED AMONG THE FOLLOWING COSTS ELEMENTS: FACILITIES; TRANSPORTATION EQUIPMENT; COMMAND AND COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT; AND OTHER EQUIPMENT. THE COST ELEMENTS WHICH DEFINE THE ANNUAL OPERATING COST ARE PERSONNEL; FACILITIES OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE; TRANSPORTATION EQUIPMENT OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE; OTHER EQUIPMENT OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE; ADMINISTRATION; AND DEBT SERVICE. EACH COST ELEMENT IS DEFINED IN TERMS OF CATEGORIES USED IN THE DEPARTMENT'S CONVENTIONAL BUDGET DOCUMENTS. THE MEMORANDUM DESCRIBES A NEW TECHNIQUE FOR ESTIMATING COSTS BY COST ELEMENT, AND PRESENTS THE RESULTS OF USING THIS TECHNIQUE TO ESTIMATE POLICE DEPARTMENT REQUESTS IN THE MAYOR'S PROPOSED 19681969 EXPENSE AND CAPITAL BUDGETS. DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TOTALS IN THE CONVENTIONAL BUDGET AND IN THE PROGRAM BUDGET ARE RECONCILED FOR EACH COST ELEMENT. THE FINAL SECTION OF THE MEMORANDUM DESCRIBES AN ON-LINE COMPUTER MODEL WHICH USES THE LANGUAGE OF THE PROGRAM AND COST STRUCTURES AND FACILITATES RAPID EXAMINATION OF THE COST IMPLICATIONS OF ALTERNATIVE RESOURCE ALLOCATIONS WITHIN