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Cooper City commissioners press for answers after Broward Sheriff's Office seeks uncapped pass-through of costs
Summary
Commissioners pushed for more transparency and directed staff to explore alternatives after the Broward Sheriff's Office sent a consideration letter that would allow contract cities to be billed for rising personnel and overhead costs without a negotiated cap.
Cooper City commissioners on July 25 pressed city staff for more information and asked the city manager to explore alternatives after the Broward Sheriff's Office (BSO) sent a consideration letter that would remove negotiated caps and pass through future pay increases and overhead to contract cities.
Commissioner Mallozzi said the letter and BSO's response to other cities amount to being "held over a barrel," and she urged the city to examine other options rather than accept an open-ended pass-through. "If I have to privatize to save being strong armed because it's what's best for my city and my residents, then that's a step I'm willing to take," Mallozzi said.
City staff described the letter as incorporating proposed pay raises and other line items BSO calls an "overhead rate," and said some line items lacked detail. The city manager told the commission staff had asked for itemized backup and does not yet have enough detail to verify whether all charges are appropriate or incremental.
Why it matters: Cooper City, like many Broward municipalities, contracts with BSO for police services. An open-ended pass-through of cost increases would transfer negotiation risk and future cost growth to the city and its taxpayers.
What the commission directed: Commissioners unanimously agreed the city should not simply accept unilateral changes without detail. The manager was directed to: - Seek additional, itemized documentation from BSO explaining how overtime, replacement deputies, overhead and other line items are calculated and billed; - Pursue direct meetings with BSO leadership (including a request to meet with the sheriff) and with neighboring cities to coordinate a regional approach; and - Evaluate alternative service options, including split-service arrangements or other regional partnerships, and to report findings to the commission for policy direction.
Discussion highlights: Several commissioners said they support BSO deputies and the level of service they provide but objected to a unilateral, uncapped approach from central BSO. Commissioner Schroeder said Cooper City has repeatedly added resources and wants to continue paying fair market rates, but cautioned the commission cannot accept unlimited increases without contractual protections. Commissioner Katzmann and the city manager noted that some cities have contracts running through 2026 and 2027 and that BSO's current posture threatens those agreements.
Next steps: Staff will request the detailed cost breakdown from BSO, attempt to schedule direct discussions with the sheriff's office, and begin an options analysis (timeline not specified). The commission asked for regular updates and suggested outreach to the Public Safety Committee and neighboring cities.
Ending: Commissioners framed the issue as fiscal stewardship and public-safety priorities: maintain service levels for residents, but require clearer accounting and contractual limits before agreeing to open-ended price pass-throughs.
