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State Budget Issues of Concern to City Budgeters April 13, 2011 <br /> • <br /> Public Safety Realignment and Funding. (AB109, AB111, SCA1x1) <br /> A variety of law enforcement grants, previously funded from the state general fund, are now funded <br /> from a 0.15% state Vehicle License Fee which is set to expire after June 2011. The Legislature has <br /> passed and Governor Brown has signed, legislation to continue these programs, but no funding source <br /> • has yet been approved. The Governor has proposed to fund these programs from an extension of the <br /> state VLF tax. But thus far the Legislature has been unable to muster the two - thirds voter approval <br /> needed to extend the taxes or to submit a measure to the voters to do so. In the absence of a funding <br /> source, the law enforcement grants, including COPS and Jail Detention Facility grants to county sheriffs <br /> will not be provided in 2011 -12. <br /> COPS /SLESF <br /> The Citizens Option for Public Safety (COPS) program provides funding for front -line law enforcement <br /> (city police, county sheriffs, and police protection districts); county jails; district attorneys for <br /> prosecution; and (since 2000 -01) local juvenile justice programs. If provided in the state budget, COPS <br /> funding is allocated by the State Controller's Office to counties for deposit by the county auditor in a <br /> Supplemental Law Enforcement Services Fund (SLESF) established In each county. The "Front Line Law <br /> Enforcement" portion of the COPS program provides for a per capita allocation to cities, counties and <br /> five police protection districts with a minimum allocation of $100,000 per agency. <br /> Unless the VLF tax is extended or another funding source is provided in the state budget, the <br /> COPS /SLESF program will terminate after June 2011. Based on current law, local budgets should <br /> currently anticipate zero funding for these programs after FY2010 -11. <br /> Booking Fees <br /> In addition to the COPs program, the 0.15% VLF that expires afterlune 2011 funds Jail Detention Facility <br /> Grants to, county sheriffs. In the absence of these funds, sheriffs are authorized In law to begin Imposing <br /> booking fees again. There will be no state reimbursement payments to cities for these county fees. <br /> In the absence of any funding for Jail Detention Facility Grants (GovCode Section 29552), counties may <br /> adopt and charge fees to arresting agencies for reimbursement of expenses of booking of persons into <br /> the county jail. Pursuant to GovCode Sec. 29550 and 29550.3: <br /> 1. These fees are limited to one -half the actual administrative costs, including applicable overhead <br /> costs. (GovCode Sec. 29550(a)(1) and Sec. 29551(e)] <br /> 2. Any Increase in a fee charged by a county must be <br /> • <br /> a. adopted prior to the beginning of its fiscal year and <br /> b. only after the county has provided each city, special district, school district, community <br /> college district, college, or university 45 days written notice of a public meeting on the fee <br /> increase and the county has conducted the public meeting. (GovCode Sec. 29550(a)(2)] <br /> 2217 Isle Royale Lane • Davis, CA • 95616-6616 <br /> phone /fax: 530.758.3952 • coleman @munil.com • www.CaliforniaCityFinance.com <br />