Rate Increase For Cops: Wildomar And Lake Elsinore React

Lake Elsinore and Wildomar will pay more for public safety due to Tuesday’s unanimous approval by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors to hike rates cities are charged for law enforcement services contracted through the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

for deputies and contrasts with what is happening in neighboring counties.

Wildomar City Manager Frank Oviedo said Tuesday’s rate increase is estimated to impact his budget by $22,148.

“The good news is that it’s smaller than in previous years. The bad news is that at a time both private and public agencies are shrinking and reducing costs -- including our organization -- any increase takes its toll and puts pressure on the overall budget.”

Oviedo pointed out that the increase comes at an odd time.

“If it is, as stated in the report, due to increases in negotiated salaries, I’m amazed because almost everybody in city government is cutting and reducing salaries. Riverside County seems to be the only public agency I know of getting increases.” 

In a draft budget proposed Monday by Los Angeles County, county Chief Executive Officer William Fujioka said there were no cost-of-living increases for law enforcement employees for the 2012-13 fiscal year that begins July 1.

“Our employees have stepped up. Union leadership has recognized that we're going through a difficult time," Fujioka said.

According to the report prepared by Riverside County staff for Tuesday’s board meeting, contract law enforcement rates are adjusted annually based on actual cost to provide services -- and a pay hike affected rates this year.

“The fully supported rate for a patrol deputy increased 1.1 percent from last year’s rate primarily due to increases in negotiated sworn supervisory employee salaries and benefits,” the report stated.

Tuesday’s rate increase is retroactive to July 1, 2011. All contract cities will receive billing adjustments from that date.

Under the revised rate schedule approved Tuesday, the cost of a sheriff's patrol deputy will rise from $125.37 per hour to $126.74, to reflect the 1.1 percent jump.

The cost of a sheriff's patrol corporal will also increase from $134.37 per hour to $135.53 per hour, or about 1 percent; a sheriff's sergeant from $86.51 to $92.39, or 6.8 percent; a lieutenant from $98.50 to $106.03, or 7.6 percent; and a sheriff's captain from $111.13 to $120.51, about 8 percent, according to the county report.

In a few cases, costs will be going down, with the hourly rate of a sheriff's investigator falling from $72.23 to $69.13 per hour, and a first- level 911 dispatcher dropping from $36.60 to $35.13 per hour, the report showed.

James Riley, director of administrative services for Lake Elsinore, said his city doesn’t need to make adjustments at this time because staff budgeted for an increase.

“It’s not impacting us at all,” he said of Tuesday’s rate hike.

Factored into the increase announced Tuesday were costs linked to sheriff’s department operations across the county. While there were cost increases for some facilities, the cost to operate the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station dropped, according to the county report. In 2010-11 the cost to operate the station was $160,220.12 compared to $153,738.62 in 2011-12, the report showed. The report did not detail why the station saw the nearly $6,500 savings.