Title
Receive a report on Operation Stonegarden
a. Support the Sheriff’s Office acceptance of $175,000 from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) passed through the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), under the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Operation Stonegarden (OPSG) grant program; and
b. Support Auditor-Controller amending the Sheriff’s Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Adopted Budget, increasing appropriations and revenues by $75,000 in 1001-230005-60000 financed by Operation Stonegarden grant program.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Budget Committee:
a. Support the Sheriff’s Office acceptance of $175,000 from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) passed through the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), under the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Operation Stonegarden (OPSG) grant program; and
b. Support Auditor-Controller amending the Sheriff’s Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Adopted Budget, increasing appropriations and revenues by $75,000 in 1001-230005-60000 financed by Operation Stonegarden grant program.
SUMMARY:
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office requests authorization to accept $175,000 in Fiscal Year 2025 Operation Stonegarden (OPSG) Grant funding administered by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and funded through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The San Diego Sheriff’s Office serves as the lead agency for the San Diego Border Patrol Sector and administers the regional Memorandum of Agreement among participating agencies.
DISCUSSION:
The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office has been an Operation Stonegarden participant for 12 years, with a cumulative award of $1,150,936 funding both overtime operations and equipment.
Operation Stonegarden is a homeland security grant program that supports coordinated law enforcement efforts to combat transnational criminal organizations involved in criminal activity, including human trafficking, human smuggling, narcotics trafficking, weapons trafficking, and other cross-border criminal enterprises. Grant funding supports eligible criminal law enforcement activities, including personnel overtime, equipment, training, travel, and other approved operational expenses that improve public safety and regional coordination.
Acceptance of this grant does not require the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office to participate in civil immigration enforcement or to enforce federal immigration laws. The Sheriff’s Office will continue to operate in accordance with all applicable federal and state law, including the California Values Act (Government Code section 7284 et seq.), and Monterey County policies.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel has approved the agreement as to legal form.
FINANCING:
The Sheriff’s Office is asking for support from the Budget Committee to increase appropriations and revenues in the Sheriff’s FY 2026-27 Adopted Budget, 1001-230005-60000 in the amount of $75,000, financed by Operation Stonegarden grant program. The Sheriff’s FY 2026-27 Adopted Budget already includes $100,000 in funding for Operation Stonegarden, approval of this action would increase appropriations by an additional $75,000, resulting in total FY 2026-27 Operation Stonegarden grant program funding of $175,000.
Prepared by: Scott Davis, Acting Commander, Ext #3708
Reviewed by: Eric Bixler, Chief Deputy, Ext#3754
Reviewed by: Keith Boyd, Undersheriff, Ext#3859
Approved by: Tina M. Nieto, Sheriff/Coroner, Ext #3750
Attachments:
Email of Grant Award
Non-Standard Agreement with Exhibits