Economic woes are forcing the Honolulu Police Department to tighten its belt and gird for a possible increase in crime this year.

The city has asked all agencies to cut about 2 percent to 3 percent from this year's operational budget. Police Chief Boisse Correa anticipates his department might cut more.

However, there are no planned layoffs, not when the department is fully staffed with more than 2,000 officers for the first time in decades, he said during a news conference yesterday.

“;It's not going to be an easy year,”; he said. “;We're going to be expected to do more with less.”;

The priority cuts will be travel and streamlining crime-prevention programs. He said he hopes to make better use of the agency's volunteer program, with about 100 positions.

“;We may even double or triple the number of volunteers coming into our service,”; Correa said.

Correa said although overtime hours dropped in 2008, the cost had increased because of a 6 percent salary increase due to the department's contract with the police union.

The police mounted horse unit also has gone to pasture. It had cost the department about $65,000 a year to care for the horses, and would have cost $80,000 to replace the unit's two trailers.

The department will not have travel expenses unless it is funded by sources outside the city, like the federal government, Correa said.

Correa also hopes to meet with federal officials in obtaining a subsidy to offset security costs for dignitaries. The department spent about $200,000 during President-elect Barack Obama's December visit.

Correa said he did not want to cut any youth programs or other crime-prevention programs because “;you'll suffer down the line.”;

Yesterday's news conference came on the heels of an FBI preliminary report on crime statistics for the first half of 2008, which saw a 22 percent drop in crime compared to the same period in 2007.

“;When all the figures come out for the end of the year, we will continue to be the safest jurisdiction in the U.S.,”; Correa said.

But he added that this year could see an increase in auto thefts, burglaries and street crimes because of the waning economy.