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Committee approves $75,000 study to re-evaluate cost of policing services for Homer Glen
Summary
By roll call the committee approved Resolution 26-4190 to hire an outside consultant (the contract amount discussed at about $75,000) to produce a full absorption and activity-based costing of law-enforcement services the county provides to the village of Homer Glen; members said the 2007 agreement is overdue for review and the study will examine overhead, custody and equipment costs.
The Will County Finance Committee voted to authorize the county auditor to enter a professional-services contract to analyze the full cost of law-enforcement services the county provides to the village of Homer Glen (Resolution 26-4190).
Presenter (referred to in the record as Duffy) explained the study would use absorption costing and activity-based costing methods to quantify total expense, including direct and indirect labor, overhead, training, workers’ compensation and ancillary costs (vehicles, radios, medical/transport costs associated with custody). "At this time... it's in the best interest of the county to explore the full economic value and impact of those law enforcement services," Duffy said, requesting authority to engage a specialized firm.
Committee members noted the agreement with Homer Glen dates back to 2001 and was last evaluated in 2007, and several members called the update "long overdue." Members asked whether the village might share any portion of the consultant fee; staff said that depends on the final assessment and how the county chooses to use the results. The presenter said the county’s current cost matrix has been updated over time but that a subject-matter expert can validate and refine overhead and shift-allocation methods.
Staff estimated the consulting engagement at about $75,000; Duffy said that figure is modest compared with alternative, more costly options and flagged vendors with prior law-enforcement costing experience. Committee members also asked the study to include custody-related costs (medical care, jail costs) and the full range of overhead allocations so the county can ensure its intergovernmental charges reflect the total cost of providing services.
The committee then took a roll-call vote. When the clerk called members, Berkowitz, Butler, Axley, Winfrey and Newquist each recorded "Yes." The chair announced the motion carried.
Why it matters: Homer Glen is among the few municipalities in the county for which the county is the direct provider of policing services; a modern, independent cost study could change how the county sets or negotiates intergovernmental charges and ensure overhead and custody costs are appropriately recovered.
What's next: Staff will execute the contract and return with results; members suggested bringing the study’s outcomes to public-safety committees for further discussion and any recommended contract changes.
