To: Board of Supervisors
From: Sheriff
Agenda Section: Consent
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:
title
Approval of an Exception to the Hiring Freeze to Hire 2.0 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) for the Sheriff’s Office
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve an exception to the hiring freeze for 1.0 FTE Sheriff’s Public Information Specialist (Class 0295) for fiscal year (FY) 2024-25 in budget unit 221; and
2. Approve an exception to the hiring freeze for 1.0 FTE Property Technician I/II (Class 1410A/B) for fiscal year (FY) 2024-25 in budget unit 221.
Body
STRATEGIC PLAN:
This action supports the following areas of your Board’s Strategic Plan.
Area of Focus: Workforce & Operational Excellence
Strategic Plan Category: 3003 - Enhance employee recruitment and retention
DISCUSSION:
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) has 1.0 FTE Public Information Specialist that is responsible for the coordination and release of Public Records Act (PRA) requests, press releases, media requests, marketing (recruitment), and website design for the entire department. The second 1.0 FTE Public Information Specialist is paid for by the NorCal Coalition grant and dedicated to the program’s efforts to combat human trafficking. HCSO has a large volume of public records requests that are mandated to be completed and therefore this Public Information Specialist position is critical to the department. HCSO requests an exception to the hiring freeze to recruit for this position.
HCSO relies on the Property Technicians to correctly maintain security and control in the evidence/property unit. HCSO is responsible for the receipt, storage, safekeeping, release, and disposal of all evidence/property items in its control. Property Technicians ensure that evidence items are correctly tracked and monitored for court exhibits, discovery, and prosecution/defense evidence viewing.
The law enforcement evidence/property function is vital to the criminal justice process. Its effective and efficient operation is integral to an agency’s quality of service to the community and the criminal justice system. This function has become increasingly complex due, in part, to factors related to legislative mandates, hazardous material storage, the protection and preservation of DNA-related material, security and chain of custody, and the training of evidence/property personnel. The failure to staff the evidence/property function can affect the successful prosecution of criminal violators, resulting in agency liability or loss of public confidence.
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
General Fund (1100)
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
|
Expenditures (1100,221100 Admin) |
FY24-25 Proposed |
FY25-26 Projected* |
FY26-27 Projected* |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$110,728 |
$116,265 |
$122,078 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
|
Total Expenditures |
$110,728 |
$116,265 |
$122,078 |
*Projected amounts are estimates and are subject to change.
|
Funding Sources (1100,221100)FY24-25 ProposedFY25-26 Projected*FY26-27 Projected* |
|
|
|
|
General Fund |
$110,728 |
$116,265 |
$122,078 |
|
Total Funding Sources |
$110,728 |
$116,265 |
$122,078 |
|
Expenditures (1100,221364 Property)FY24-25 ProposedFY25-26 Projected*FY26-27 Projected* |
|
|
|
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$64,998 |
$68,258 |
$71,660 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
$0 |
$0 |
$0 |
|
Total Expenditures |
$64,998 |
$68,258 |
$71,660 |
*Projected amounts are estimates and are subject to change.
|
Funding Sources (1100,221364)FY24-25 ProposedFY25-26 Projected*FY26-27 Projected* |
|
|
|
|
General Fund |
$8,998 |
$9,458 |
$9,920 |
|
Other |
$56,000 |
$58,800 |
$61,740 |
|
Total Funding Sources |
$64,998 |
$68,258 |
$71,660 |
*Projected amounts are estimates and are subject to change.
Narrative Explanation of Financial Impact:
In addition to the workload for HCSO, the HCSO Property Technicians also provide this service to the Humboldt County Drug Task Force (DTF). DTF compensates HCSO $56,000 annually which equates to the fully burdened cost of approximately 0.5 FTE Property Technician. HCSO’s property division has 4.0 FTE Property/Evidence Technicians assigned to cover the workload for property and evidence booking. Currently 2.0 FTE are vacant: 1.0 FTE in Measure Z budget unit 1100-297 and 1.0 FTE in Sheriff Operations budget unit 1100-221. HCSO requests an exception to the hiring freeze to recruit for the 1.0 FTE position in budget 221. Recruitment efforts to replace the 1.0 FTE in MZ budget 297 are already underway.
There is no additional funding being requested. The FY 2024-25 adopted budget includes salary and benefits for both positions.
STAFFING IMPACT:
HCSO is not requesting any additional FTE’s. Both positions are included in the FY 2024-25 adopted budget.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Your Board could deny this request to hire these positions. This is not recommended. Should your Board not approve the Public Information Specialist, HCSO’s ability to complete mandated PRA requests would be greatly hindered. Should your Board not approve the Property Technician, HCSO would not be able to continue to provide this service to DTF and would be hindered in its ability to keep up with current standards and workload.
ATTACHMENTS:
None
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Meeting of: 6/4/2024
File No.: 24-902