To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office
Staff Name and Phone Number: Julie Bertoli, 565-1469
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
First Amendment to the Agreement for the Provision of Court Security Services
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Authorize the Chair to execute the First Amendment to the Agreement for the Provision of Court Security Services between County of Sonoma and the Superior Court of California, County of Sonoma to extend the term of the Agreement for one additional year through June 30, 2026, with options to extend for two additional years.
end
Executive Summary:
The Sheriff is requesting the Board to authorize the Chair to execute an Amendment needed to extend the term of the Agreement for the Provision of Court Security Services between the Sheriff's Office and the Superior Court of California, County of Sonoma. Both parties have agreed to maintain the existing level of services until the new courthouse, which is anticipated to open on or around January 2026, becomes operational, at which time a new Agreement will be developed to reflect operations within the new courthouse. This Amendment and the Agreement for Provision of Court Security Services reflect the current legislation related to the performance and funding of Court Security.
Discussion:
Pursuant to Government Code 69926, the Sheriff’s Office provides security services for the Superior Court of California, County of Sonoma. These services include bailiff functions, protection to members of the judiciary and court personnel, jury functions, inmate transport and supervision in court holding areas, and patrols of hallways and other common areas of court facilities. The Court Security Bureau, an operational unit within the Sheriff's Office, is staffed with 29 deputies, six correctional officers, two sergeants, and one lieutenant, and they provide security at the various court locations. Full time staffing is supplemented with extra help and overtime as needed.
The “Superior Court Security Act of 2012,” Government Code sections 69920-69927, requires that the County and the Superior Court of California, County of Sonoma (“Court”) memorialize the court security obligation and corresponding reimbursement through a Memorandum of Understand (MOU). The Agreement for the Provision of Court Security Services (“Agreement”) between the County of Sonoma and the Court defines the level of service provided by the Sheriff’s Office to the Court.
The current Agreement between the County and the Court has been in effect since July 1, 2020, and expired on June 30, 2025. Per the conditions of the MOU, the Sheriff’s Office continued to provide security services to the Court under the same terms as in the expired Agreement. The First Amendment to the Agreement continues the provision of court security services through June 30, 2026, with options to extend the Agreement for two (2) additional, one (1) year extensions. No other material changes have been made to the Agreement.
The extension of the Agreement provides time for operations to transition to the new courthouse and sufficient time to finalize a new contract once the facility is fully functional. The parties intend to develop a new Agreement as soon as they feel that the transition to the new facility is complete.
The Agreement covers costs related to the provision of court security services as defined in the legislation. In FY 11-12, the State of California implemented a realignment budget plan (AB118), which shifted certain criminal justice responsibility from the state to counties. Chapter 40 of the Statutes of 2011 created the Trial Court Security Account, providing funding for Court Security Services directly to the County. Previously, court security funding was controlled by the County Administrator’s Office. As a result of realignment, the County received a monthly disbursement from the State of California into a Special Revenue Fund, which the Sheriff’s Office now manages. The reimbursement amount is determined by actual costs of Court Security operations, less exclusions specified in the Trail Court financial Policies and Procedures Manual presented by the Judicial Council of California. Examples of exclusions include certain office supplies, non-court security related trainings, and retiree health benefits. The actual costs of these exclusions are accounted for in the Sheriff’s Office FY 25-26 Adopted Budget; therefore, there is no funding request accompanying this request.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
The Board has approved Agreements for court security services between the County and the court since 1999.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY25-26 Adopted |
FY26-27 Projected |
FY27-28 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$12,252,318 |
$12,619,888 |
$12,998,484 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$12,252,318 |
$12,619,988 |
$12,998,484 |
|
Funding Sources |
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General Fund/WA GF |
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State/Federal |
$12,252,318 |
$12,619,888 |
$12,998,484 |
|
Fees/Other |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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General Fund Contingencies |
|
|
|
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Total Sources |
$12,252,318 |
$12,619,888 |
$12,998,484 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
The Court reimburses the County for salary and benefit costs for Court Security personnel, including overtime and extra help. It also reimburses the County for security services and equipment, including ammunition, batons, bulletproof vests, and handcuffs. Non-reimbursable costs include overhead costs required for the operation of the Sheriff’s Office (e.g., EFS, HRMS), and retiree health benefits for Court Security personnel. The allowable and non-allowable costs are detailed in the Trial Court Financial Policy and Procedures Manual.
The Sheriff’s Office FY 25-26 Adopted Budget includes $12,252,318 in reimbursement for Court Security services, as well as the County’s share of the non-reimbursable costs. Should the State not allocate enough funds to reimburse actual expenses, the Sheriff’s Office will be able to draw from the fund balance to cover the Court Security related costs. No additional appropriations are requested. A standard 3% cost increase is assumed for both the FY 26-27 and FY 27-28 projections
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Staffing Impacts: |
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Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
Court Security Agreement for the Provision of Court Security Services
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
N/A