A plan that would have the Los Angeles Police Department absorb the city’s security officers could save Los Angeles $2.23 million a year, according to a budget report released today.

The move to fold the Office of Public Safety into the LAPD is backed by City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana. The move would not increase the size of LAPD’s sworn force.

“By eliminating redundant functions and reconfiguring existing deployment methods, the LAPD will absorb the responsibilities of 37 (General Services Department) sworn currently assigned to patrol duties into the existing patrol function which is supported by the area stations and funded as part of the 9,963 (officers),” according the CAO’s report.

The city’s security guards monitor libraries, parks, the Civic Center, Los Angeles Zoo, Convention Center and Bureau of Sanitation’s wastewater treatment plants. If Public Safety personnel are moved to the LAPD, they would become part of the new Security Services Division. That division would have three sub-sections: City Security, Special Services and Administration.

The move would require personnel to go through training and complete a background check. Sworn employees would also need to pass a medical and psychological exam. Qualified personnel could transition to LAPD’s sworn staff.

The move would save the city $2.23 million in the next fiscal year. Once the transition is complete, the city’s General Fund is expected to save $2.9 million a year.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa will release the 2012-13 budget on Friday. A similar plan to move public safety workers to the LAPD was proposed in 2010.