Millbrae council approves $10.3 million contract amendment with San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office
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Summary
The Millbrae City Council approved a 17th amendment to its policing contract with the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office covering FY 2025–26. Council and staff described staffing levels, a CalPERS credit that reduces the city’s net payment, and plans to study public-safety staffing as the city grows.
The Millbrae City Council on July 22 approved an amendment to the city’s policing contract with the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office, authorizing service for July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026 at a not-to-exceed price of $10,336,696. The council voted 5–0 to adopt the contract amendment after staff described staffing levels and a pension-related credit that lowers Millbrae’s net payment.
City Manager Tom Williams said Millbrae contracts with the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office for local policing and that the amendment represents the 17th change to that contract. “We have two deputies that patrol the city per shift,” Williams said, and the contract also pays for downtown foot-patrol and traffic enforcement officers, sergeants and supervisory staff.
Mike Sung, Millbrae’s finance director, told the council the contract’s headline amount is $10,336,696 but that the county applies a CalPERS adjustment described as an unfunded actuarial liability credit of $1,600,000. “That’s the actual amount that we pay the San Mateo County for these law enforcement services,” Sung said, meaning Millbrae’s net fiscal-year cost after the credit is about $8.7 million. Sung also said the contract covers roughly 21.45 full-time-equivalent positions, including a captain and approximately 10 deputies.
Council members asked about periodic needs assessments given Millbrae’s population and daytime growth. Williams and Sung said staff routinely analyze public-safety costs and that the city will bring back a needs assessment in September to review staffing for both the sheriff contract and Central County Fire Department (CCFD). Williams said the city plans to contract for a formal study to examine per-capita staffing and service-level needs tied to projected new housing and daytime population increases.
The council made no changes to the contract amendment; Councilmember Rinaldi moved approval and Councilmember Wynne seconded. The measure passed 5–0.
Why it matters: The contract funds front-line policing in Millbrae and represents a sizeable portion of annual public-safety spending. The credit for historical pension liabilities meaningfully reduces the city’s near-term cash outlay, and staff’s forthcoming needs assessment could shape future budget or staffing decisions.
Supporting details and next steps: Finance Director Sung said the county credit is an annual adjustment resulting from the sheriff’s participation in a retirement system different from CalPERS. Williams said staff will return with a formal report in September that analyzes deputy and firefighter staffing relative to population growth and daytime demand. No changes to service levels were adopted at the July 22 meeting.
Votes at a glance: Item 7 (Amendment to contract with San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office for police services, FY 2025–26) — motion to approve by Councilmember Rinaldi, second by Councilmember Wynne; outcome: approved 5–0.
