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Commission approves supplemental law-enforcement contract after questions on fee formula
Summary
The commission approved a supplemental law-enforcement services contract after Yvette Rice of the sheriff's office described the fee calculation (based on a mid-range sergeant overtime rate plus benefits/overhead); commissioners asked for a detailed year-long billing analysis and the underlying calculation and authorized the contract 3-0.
Yvette Rice, representing the sheriff's office, told commissioners the supplemental law-enforcement services fee had been recalculated last year on the basis of a mid-range sergeant's overtime rate plus a percentage for benefits and overhead. Rice said the sheriff's office had previously set a $53-per-hour rate and that the mid-range sergeant rate chosen was intended to avoid under-recovery, noting a four-hour minimum per event is billed even if officers work fewer hours on-site.
Commissioner (Unidentified Speaker 2) observed that a recent cost-of-living adjustment of about 3% might push the rate higher (a figure of $67.50 was mentioned in discussion), and asked whether that change had been factored into the sheriff's office calculation. Rice said Daelene Higgins (the sheriff's office financial manager) performed the original calculation and that the office could recalculate based on current mid-range sergeant wages and provide the detailed methodology and a one-year look-back at the number of deputies versus sergeants and hours billed.
Rice committed to emailing the detailed calculation and to posting any rate change publicly before implementation if commissioners direct a change. Commissioners debated whether the contract currently over-recovers on some events because most shifts are staffed by deputies (who are paid less) rather than sergeants; Rice said the office believed the current rate was adequate but offered to provide the underlying data for review.
After the discussion, Speaker 4 moved to approve consent agenda number 18 authorizing the commission chair to sign the supplemental law-enforcement contract; Speaker 4's motion was seconded and passed by voice vote, 3-0.
