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Council hears rising sheriff and CAL FIRE contract costs driving FY2027 pressures
Summary
Council members and staff discussed growing costs for public‑safety contracts — Sheriff and CAL FIRE — which together make up a majority of General Fund contractual spending and are cited as primary drivers of the FY2027 shortfall.
City staff presented multi‑year trends showing public‑safety costs have increased faster than CPI and constitute a major share of the General Fund. The finance director said contractual and professional services account for roughly 55% of General Fund expenditures and that the sheriff contract and the CAL FIRE/Riverside County fire contract make up the largest shares.
"Public safety cost[s] being 1 of our more major expenditures, are also significantly increasing," the finance director said, noting a $600,000 increase for police contract costs and a $200,000 increase for fire contract costs compared with last year. Staff also showed that vacancies and historical savings had been used to partially offset contract escalations.
Councilmembers asked for more detailed trend analysis and whether the city receives a discount from the county for hosting a sheriff substation; staff said they would research the discount calculation and return with details. Councilmembers also discussed using technology and volunteer programs to reduce personnel costs over time, and asked staff to include sheriff‑contract details in future workshops.
The city is in contract discussions with Cal FIRE/Riverside County for a multi‑year term; staff said the full contract projection for fire would be about $7.1 million if exercised, with an assumed escalation. Council asked staff to show more granular trend data to identify years with lower charges and whether those conditions could be replicated.
