Budget issues forcing early retirement

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Some Austin police officers may retire early if the city cuts their pay.

Senior police officer Andy Pietrowski has been with APD for 30 years, but if he gets a pay cut, he said he will likely retire early.

"If the amount of money I would get for retirement now is higher than it would be down the road, I would be a fool not to leave, and that's sad because I love my job," said Pietrowski. "I could have retired like seven years ago. I do love the job. I love working the streets. It's still what I do. I love coming out here and training new officers and working with them."

He is willing to give it up after city officials announced on Wednesday there is a $30 million budget shortfall for 2010. That likely means more cuts and  Mayor Pro Tem Brewster McCracken suggested asking the police and EMS unions to consider a 1 percent pay cut.

Austin Police Association president Wayne Vincent thinks other officers may follow suit.

"We've got anywhere from 190 to 200 police officers in fiscal 2010 that will reach eligibility to retire," said Vincent.

Vincent worries what the police department will look like. There are already a dozen police positions vacant. Meanwhile, Pietrowski said with the police academy postponed, safety concerns may be another factor driving officers out.

"With no cadet class, that might be a little much for me," said Pietrowski. "I may just have to cash it in as much as I wouldn't want to."

City officials said the exact estimated shortfall is $29.6 million at the rollback rate. However, without the rollback, the city would be looking at shortfall of an estimated $43.1 million.

Below is Brewster McCracken, as well as the other mayoral candidates for Austin discussing the budget shortfall and how they would solve that if they were mayor.