Supervisors discuss sheriff contract-rate increases for cities as department defends built-in countywide services

Supervisors pressed the Sheriff Department and staff about proposed contract-rate increases for cities that use county sheriff services, while the department defended the methodology used to build the rates.

Supervisor Jeffreys said media reports indicated the proposed contract-city increases totaled about $5.5 million across jurisdictions and asked whether the county provides some services to all cities for free — for example aviation, SWAT and bomb squad. An undersheriff or department representative replied that many of those offerings are countywide mutual-aid services and are not included in the per-city contract rate; the department does, however, include staffing and facility costs in its rate calculations.

Jeffreys also noted the variability in facility-charge increases across cities and urged the department to ensure charges are consistent and legally defensible. The Sheriff’s representative said accountants and analysts had built the facility rate to include appropriate legal and county costs and that staffing levels and unincorporated-area service expansions affect the rate calculations.

Supervisor Spiegle asked how much of the rate increases were attributable to additional staff ("bodies") versus other costs; the department said personnel and service-level changes factor heavily into rate calculations but that the rate is balanced across unincorporated and city service levels.

The Board approved the item (3.51) on a unanimous 5-0 vote. Supervisors said they expect the department to continue explaining rate drivers to city councils and to provide clarity on what services are included in the contracts.

What’s next: Sheriff’s staff will continue outreach with cities and provide details about facility and staffing components of the new rates.