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Trumbull County amends SRO contracts; schools to pay full deputy costs and overtime
Summary
County and sheriff’s office described changes to school resource officer contracts that shift full deputy costs, overtime and an administrative fee to participating school districts and some townships; some districts accepted a waived fee for the first year.
Trumbull County commissioners and the sheriff’s office reviewed and amended contracts for school resource officers (SROs) and township patrols, changing who pays deputies’ full costs and overtime.
The revisions update longstanding SRO agreements so participating school districts and townships must pay the county the exact cost of a deputy assigned as an SRO, including overtime. County staff said the county had been losing money under older contracts because districts were not required to pay overtime when officers covered events such as football games. County staff also said some contracts will include a 5% administrative fee; the county agreed to waive that fee for districts that could not afford it for the coming year.
Why this matters: The change shifts operating costs from the sheriff’s office and the county general fund to local school districts and contracting municipalities, a substantial budget effect for districts that pay for SROs. Commissioners and sheriff’s staff said the change brings the county’s agreements up to market rates and stops long-running county subsidy of SRO services.
County staff described the scope of the contracts: SRO and patrol agreements cover a mix of township patrols and school-district SRO positions. Named school districts and municipalities discussed included Joseph Badger, Kinsman, Mathews, Brookfield (technical center), Southington, Bloomfield, Mesopotamia, North Bloomfield, Bristolville, Champion, Warren, John F. Kennedy (Warren), Newton Falls and Mineral Ridge, among others. County officials clarified that some contracts are for township patrol positions rather than school resource officers.
County and sheriff’s office speakers said districts faced significant recent increases in SRO costs; one example cited was raises in pay for deputies that raised district costs “as high as $20,000 a year per deputy.” Staff said where districts could not pay the administrative fee this fiscal year, the county offered to waive it for one year but will expect full payment in future years. Staff also noted the county had previously absorbed overtime costs when deputies worked special events; under the revised contracts districts and municipalities must pay overtime costs going forward.
Commissioners and sheriff’s staff discussed that some of the increased costs for districts were offset for this year by grant money already awarded to those school systems. Officials said the goal of the changes is to stop repeated county losses and place the cost burden with the contracting entity.
Ending: County staff said the updated contracts bring the SRO program up to date and will be reflected in the agreements presented to the board for final approval. No formal vote on the package was recorded in the transcript excerpt.
