Title
Receive a report from the County Administrative Office, outlining additional points of consideration in reviewing the Sheriff’s Office report regarding the request to add an additional deputy position, Item No. 15 16 (BC 18-138) on the Budget Committee Agenda for November 13, 2018.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Budget Committee receive a report from the County Administrative Office, outlining additional points of consideration in reviewing the Sheriff’s Office report regarding the request to add an additional deputy position, Item No. 15 (BC 18-138) on the Budget Committee Agenda for November 13, 2018.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The Budget and Analysis Division reviewed the Budget Committee report from the Sheriff’s Office requesting approval of a two-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office and North Monterey County Unified School District for provision of up to three School Resource Officers funded by Tobacco Law Enforcement Grant awarded to the school district. Below are some points that the Budget Committee should consider in reviewing this report:
• In the most recent budget process, the Board authorized $3.6 million in augmentations to support the Sheriff’s Office in preventing the loss of 39 positions due to cost pressures.
• The adopted budget for the Sheriff’s Office included a School Resource Officer (SRO) working for the North Monterey County Unified School District (school district).
• The SRO is funded entirely with County general fund contributions.
• The Sheriff’s Office is receiving $217,000 in reimbursement from the school district to support the SRO.
• The reimbursement from the school district frees up $217,000 in general fund contributions budgeted to support the SRO.
• The Sheriff’s Office would like to re-purpose the general fund contributions to augment staffing by one deputy in patrol operations.
• An alternative for the Budget Committee to consider is to receive the $217,000 reimbursement without augmenting staff.
• Receiving additional revenue without increasing costs would help the Sheriff’s Office with their many budget challenges, such as keeping up with rising costs and staffing the expanded jail.
• Having received an average of $4.5 million in annual augmentations over the last three fiscal years, the Sheriff’s Office will undoubtedly request additional financial help in the next budget cycle.
• Accepting the grant without increasing staffing commitments would help the Sheriff’s Office avert lay-offs and meet existing and emerging needs.
The County Administrative Office is available to discuss further at the request of the Budget Committee.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The County Administrative Office reviewed the report submitted by the Sheriff’s Office.
FINANCING:
This is an informational report and as such there is no fiscal impact.
Prepared by: Raquel Escorcia, CAO Analyst, x5030
Approved by: Paul Lewis, County Budget Director, x3078
Approved by: Dewayne Woods, Assistant CAO, x5309