After public outcry, Santa Barbara supervisors order deeper audit and monthly overtime reports for sheriff's office

The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 10 directed county staff to undertake several follow-up steps after receiving an audit summary of sheriff's office overtime and listening to more than a dozen public speakers calling for transparency and accountability. The board approved a motion to request a deeper audit of overtime items flagged by internal auditors, to receive more frequent overtime reports for the next six months, and to request a legal analysis of the board's authority under California law (cited in the meeting as 1185) for an inspector-general-style oversight mechanism.

County auditors and executive office staff told the board the limited audit covered timekeeping data for 824 employees and identified anomalies and patterns that may have increased overtime costs, such as portal-to-portal pay, standby codes and MOU provisions that allow certain overtime calculations. The presentation said overtime costs rose in FY2425 and projected that without controls the county could face up to a $9 million excess in overtime spending.

Auditors recommended clarifying coding practices, auditing the use of standby and portal-to-portal pay, better coordination between HR and the sheriff's office, and negotiating changes to MOU language where appropriate. Joe Boer, the internal auditor who presented, said the review was not a comprehensive financial audit and recommended further work.

The sheriff and command staff responded with operational context, saying vacancies, the opening of the North Jail in January 2022 and changes to retirement and staffing rules contributed to overtime levels; the sheriff's office also described management steps that have produced a 13.4% reduction in overtime in recent pay periods. Sheriff Brown told the board the office is statutorily charged with certain public-safety responsibilities and that operating the jails and patrols requires minimum staffing.

Public commenters urged stronger oversight, independent audits and restrictions on overtime while some speakers argued that cutting overtime without addressing vacancies and public-safety needs would be harmful. "There should be an independent audit and transparency on these hours," one community member said. After deliberation, Supervisor Hartmann moved and Supervisor Caps seconded a package of directions that the board approved by roll call: (1) a deeper audit of sheriff overtime items the auditor identified; (2) more frequent overtime reporting (monthly tracking to be considered for at least six months); and (3) a staff analysis of the board's authority under state law for an inspector-general-style review.

The board asked county auditors to return with more detailed findings and for regular reporting to the board so supervisors and the public can track whether overtime spending declines as controls are implemented.