Cochise College increases contribution to county training academy IGA, lowering county cost

Board members reviewed an updated intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with Cochise College July 17 that changes cost sharing for the county sheriff’s training academy coordinator. Supervisor Gomez explained the college increased its payment for the sergeant's overtime, reducing the county’s projected share. "The only thing that changed was we got the college to raise, sergeant Hudson because they paid for his salary... So now we project only about $5,000 [county cost]," Gomez said. Meeting remarks said the college raised its contribution by about $11,800, lowering the county’s prior cost by roughly $15,000. Board members and sheriff’s office representatives also discussed the academy’s regional role: multiple local agencies send recruits to the Cochise County academy (which is reportedly less costly than sending recruits to Tucson), and the college has built dorms so out‑of‑county recruits can stay on site. Supervisors asked whether recruits receive POST certification and were told graduates do receive POST certification and that partner agencies include Cochise County and neighboring counties. The IGA update was informational at the work session and scheduled for formal approval on the regular meeting agenda.