Proposed 2026-27 Budget

Overall Budget Summary

The Proposed Budget recommends an increase of staffing to 360.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions, including negotiated salary and benefit increases. Appropriations total $124,421,123, funded by revenues of $40,468,136, a General Fund Contribution of $74,822,094, a District Sales Tax Contribution of $3,123,000, and the one-time use of General Fund Reserves of $6,007,893.

The Proposed Budget includes the net addition of 2.0 FTE positions to support DNA laboratory operations. The budget increases expenses by $9,865,998 primarily due to $5,487,111 in negotiated salary and benefit increases, reflecting continued growth in personnel costs across the department. Other expense increases total $4,378,887 and include a $1,217,110 increase in jail medical services and a $1,414,249 increase in internal technology and facilities charges, which are offset by reductions in professional services, travel, and fleet. Finally, the addition of $2,535,550 in property and liability charges was offset by an increase in General Fund Contribution. Further details are summarized by division below.

The budget increases revenues by $793,998 primarily due to the Assembly Bill (AB) 109 Public Safety Realignment increase of $304,203, County Service Area (CSA) 38 increase of $154,616, and various other increases primarily related to the implementation of California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) and Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) for incarcerated persons.

The net result of the Proposed Budget is an overall net increase of $ 9,072,010, funded by an increase in General Fund Contribution and use of one-time General Fund Reserves.

Operations Bureau

The Operations Bureau budget is supported in part by District Sales Tax Contributions, which fund core patrol and community-based public safety services. These services provide 24-hour emergency and non-emergency response, law enforcement coverage, and community engagement in unincorporated areas.

Ongoing staffing shortages continue to drive overtime costs, particularly in patrol operations, as the department works to maintain minimum staffing levels, with more than 30% of budgeted deputy positions unavailable due to long-term leave, modified duty assignments, and academy training.

The Proposed Budget includes the net addition of 2.0 FTE positions to support DNA laboratory operations, including adding 21.0 FTE Administrative Aide positions and 1.0 FTE Criminalist I, offset by the deletion of 1.0 FTE Forensic Pathologist. These position changes support accreditation efforts and enhance forensic capabilities and are funded by a variety of restricted funds including AB 109, DNA Trust, Rural Crime Prevention, Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Fund (SLESF), and Small County and Rural Crime, and do not require additional General Fund support.

The budget also includes investments in equipment replacement for officers and public safety operations, as well as costs associated with advancing DNA laboratory accreditation.

Corrections Bureau

The Corrections Bureau continues to experience staffing shortages that require elevated overtime to maintain safe staffing levels within the County’s jail facilities.

The Proposed Budget includes an increase of approximately $1.25 million for the medical and behavioral health services contract, reflecting rising healthcare costs and service demands, for a contract total of $12,017,141. The department also continues its efforts to achieve accreditation through the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC), which contributes to ongoing operational costs.

Additional cost pressures include increased facility maintenance expenses and higher contract costs for jail food services, driven by inflation and operational needs associated with maintaining aging facilities.

Court Security

Court Security continues to rely on General Fund to maintain mandated court security and related services. The Proposed Budget includes a General Fund Contribution of $2,156,359 to sustain these operations and ensure compliance with required public safety responsibilities within court facilities.

Workforce Recruitment and Retention Challenges: The department continues to experience workforce shortages due to a limited pool of qualified candidates for sworn and correctional positions, as well as long-term employee absences. These challenges increase overtime costs, place additional workload on existing staff, and continue to affect the department’s ability to sustain minimum staffing levels for patrol, custody, and public safety services. Workforce shortages in law enforcement remain a statewide issue and continue to impact staffing levels and service delivery.

Rising Contract and Personnel Costs: Increasing personnel costs and rising expenses for mandated services, including jail medical care and food services, place ongoing pressure on the department’s budget. These cost increases reduce flexibility to fund new initiatives and may require continued prioritization of core public safety services. The County may also need to consider pursuing an increase in CSA 38 revenues to cover the growing cost of public safety services in the unincorporated areas of the County.

Custody Operations and Facility Needs: The department faces ongoing custody and infrastructure needs within the jail system, including the need for a dedicated behavioral health housing unit, facility upgrades, and deferred maintenance. These needs are driven by increasing mental health service demands and aging facilities. Delays in addressing these issues may affect safety, operational efficiency, and compliance with regulatory standards.

Federal and State Funding and Policy Changes: Changes in federal and State funding, policy decisions, and criminal justice mandates create ongoing uncertainty for Sheriff’s Office operations. Reductions, delays, or shifts in funding may affect resources available for public safety programs, equipment, and specialized services, while new or evolving mandates may increase operational and staffing requirements. Implementation of CalAIM creates opportunities for Medi-Cal reimbursement for eligible services, including MAT provided prior to release; however, reimbursement structures and eligibility continue to evolve, creating both opportunities and risks for long-term funding.

Growing Court Security Costs: Court security responsibilities remain a significant and ongoing fiscal pressure. Since Fiscal Year (FY) 2015-16, total costs have increased from $3.4 million to a proposed $6.2 million in FY 2026-27, while State support has grown to only $4.0 million and has not kept pace with expenditures. As a result, the General Fund continues to absorb the funding gap to maintain required service levels, limiting the County’s ability to allocate resources to other priorities.