Supervisors approve vehicle registration fee increase to boost funding for forensic program

Exercising a one-time provision in state law, the Board of Supervisors today approved a $1 increase in motor vehicle registration fees for Riverside County residents who drive their own cars, and a $2 increase for operators of commercial vehicles, in a move to boost funding for a forensic program.

Supervisor Kevin Jeffries cast the sole dissenting vote on the issue of raising the AB 2393 fee, saying that he could not accept raising taxes when constituents are already paying too much.  

"All these little fees add up, and that's why I'm opposed," Jeffries said.

Supervisor Karen Spiegel said it was a net positive because the money
supports "a direct service'' to residents.

"It's a challenge if we don't have (technology) up to date,'' she said.

Sheriff Chad Bianco requested the hikes, which will take effect in six months and result in residents paying $2 to cover the AB 2393 component of vehicle license fees for their personal vehicles, and commercial operators paying a total of $4. Currently, the rates are $1 and $2, respectively.

The law permits a one-time increase that each county must enact by resolution.  

According to sheriff's officials, the funds derived from the doubled surcharges will go directly to bolster Cal-ID, the state's 35-year-old forensic data collection system, which processes and analyzes evidence 21 hours a day, seven days a week.

The hikes are expected to raise just over $4 million annually, and the sheriff's department said the additional funds will be earmarked exclusively for county operations, mainly to replace more than 50 automated fingerprint identification and live scan machines used at sheriff's correctional facilities and patrol stations, as well as at municipal police departments countywide.

New units will need to be installed by 2023, officials said.  

"Without the increase in revenue, Cal-ID would need to make drastic changes in operational costs and may not be able to provide certain critical
programs and the level of service that our member agencies currently receive,'' according to an agency statement.

At the same meeting, the Board of Supervisors today approved Sheriff Bianco's request to hike the blanket rate charged to 17 cities and other contract entities for the use of patrol deputies and support services associated with operations.

Under the revised rate schedule, the cost of a sheriff's patrol deputy will rise from $183.60 to $188.95 per hour -- a 2.9% jump from the prior
fiscal year.

The increase is retroactive to July 1, 2019, and is needed to recoup
higher costs incurred by the sheriff's department, according to agency
officials.

According to Bianco, the 2.9% rate adjustment will allow the department to cover salaries, benefits, pensions, equipment and collateral services associated with the sheriff's supervisors, clerical staff and other personnel needed to support patrol operations. Insurance costs and internal service fees billed to the sheriff by other agencies were also factors.