Sheriff and emergency services warn vehicle repairs, fleet costs and unfunded mandates strain public-safety budgets

Sheriff's Office and emergency-service leaders told the Board of Supervisors March 11 that vehicle repair costs, aging fleet vehicles and unfunded state and federal mandates are creating pronounced budget pressure across public safety.

Sheriff (identified in discussion as the county sheriff) said his department has seen repair bills rise substantially; he cited a single repair bill he'd recently received of roughly $9,000 and said several leased or older Dodge Durango and Charger vehicles have required large repairs in the 60,000'70,000-mile range. He said the department's motor-vehicle repair line is already in the red for the current fiscal year and that his request in the packet originally sought $380,000 to replace and outfit five vehicles. County administration…