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RTP Foundation donation to sheriff’s office funds facility upfit; county realigns five positions for staffing
Summary
Commissioners approved an RTP Foundation donation and associated upfit for space the sheriff's office will staff. County staff said the gift will cover upfit costs and that five full-time positions were realigned in the sheriff's budget for operations; commissioners asked how cost overruns and staffing will be handled.
Durham County commissioners approved a consent-item partnership with the Research Triangle Foundation that includes funding to upfit space for sheriff’s office services and staffing support.
The board approved the consent agenda motion that included the item; the consent agenda passed 5–0.
Commissioner Jacobs asked how the county would manage the upfit if costs exceed the donated funds and asked for more detail about staffing plans. “What happens if we don't stick within the budget that is being provided? What will be the process around that for the upfit? And also, if we could hear a little bit more about how the actual staffing of the service will take place, how that will be done, what the plan is for that,” Jacobs asked.
County Manager Hager said positions were realigned in the sheriff's office budget to support five full-time equivalents (FTEs) for the new staffing. Manager Hager also said the sheriff and the Research Triangle Foundation had been working on the partnership since the budget process.
David LaBarre, director of planning and development with the Office of the Sheriff, described the donation as generous and said staff are conducting engineering and value analysis to stay within the provided budget. “So it is a very generous donation for our RTP to the sheriff's office, and we are conducting a high level of valued engineering to make sure that we fit and operate within that budget. So we've been given directions to stay within that,” LaBarre said.
Commissioner Jacobs thanked staff for the partnership and for coordinating across agencies. The record shows the board approved the consent agenda that included the Research Triangle Foundation upfit item (item 25-0497) by a 5–0 vote. Staff said they will manage the upfit to remain within the donated funds and will report further details on staffing and budget management if needed.
The transcript did not include a dollar amount for the donation, nor a detailed staffing plan beyond the five FTEs referenced; commissioners asked staff to describe contingency handling for budget overruns.
