Riverside County Approves Move Charging More For Police

The Riverside County Board of Supervisors voted today to hike the rates charged to cities and other entities that contract with the Sheriff’s Department for law enforcement services.

The rate increases, which will be retroactive to July 1, 2009, are needed to keep pace with ever-rising operational costs, according to sheriff’s officials.

Under the revised rate schedule, the cost of a sheriff’s patrol deputy will increase from $117.30 to $121.97 per hour, a 4 percent jump from the previous year.

The cost of a sheriff’s patrol corporal will increase from $127.92 to $131.94 per hour, or about 3 percent; a sheriff’s lieutenant from $90.46 to $93.98 per hour, or 4 percent; and a sheriff’s captain from $104.48 to $108.61, also about 4 percent.

According to sheriff’s officials, the cost of staff benefits and equipment are priced into the figures.

All but three of the 15 municipalities that contract for law enforcement services will also be required to pay increased lump sum fees for the Sheriff’s Department’s use of facilities dedicated to servicing the communities.

The largest percentage increase will be carried by Calimesa, which will owe $47,127 in facilities costs, compared to $22,193 the previous year — a 112 percent hike that sheriff’s officials attributed to rising maintenance costs at the Cabazon station.

The city of Perris will bear the highest facilities fee: $491,404, up from $484,961 last year.

Higher fees will also be imposed on the community service districts served by the Sheriff’s Department, as well as the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, whose reservation sheriff’s deputies patrol.

At the board’s April 6 meeting, Supervisor Bob Buster objected to the proposed rate hikes, saying that contract entities struggling to shore up their budgets in the midst of an economic downturn could ill-afford higher law enforcement rates.

Buster has criticized public safety unions for seeking pension benefits and salary increases that the supervisor argues are unsustainable.

Sheriff Stan Sniff told the board during budget hearings last month that early retirements and a hiring freeze last year had left him with “threadbare” resources. The Sheriff’s Department is facing a 3 percent spending cut in the 2010-11 fiscal year. But it remained unclear whether the reduction — among the smallest of any county agency — will precipitate layoffs.