|
|
|
|
|
|
COUNTY OF SAN MATEO
Inter-Departmental Correspondence
|
COUNTYWIDE VEHICLE THEFT TASK FORCE
|
|
|
|
DATE:
|
August 3, 2006
|
BOARD MEETING DATE:
|
September 12, 2006
|
SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:
|
None
|
VOTE REQUIRED:
|
Majority
|
|
|
TO:
|
Honorable Board of Supervisors
|
|
|
|
FROM:
|
Sheriff Don Horsley
|
|
|
|
SUBJECT:
|
Countywide Vehicle Theft Task Force FY 2006-07 Budget
|
|
|
RECOMMENDATION:
|
Adopt a resolution approving the Countywide Vehicle Theft Task Force (VTTF) FY 2006-07 Budget, totaling $817,395, as recommended by the VTTF Advisory Board.
|
|
|
VISION ALIGNMENT:
|
Commitment: County and local governments effectively communicate, collaborate and develop strategic solutions to regional issues.
|
Goal 7: Maintain and enhance the public safety of all residents and visitors.
|
|
|
PERFORMANCE INDICATORS:
|
FY 2005-06
Actual
|
FY 2006-07
Projected
|
County’s statewide percentage of:
vehicle theft vs. registered vehicles
|
28.2% / 2.6%
|
27.0% / 2.7%
|
Recovery rate of stolen vehicles (state average vs. County)
|
State: 89%
County: 90%
|
State: 89% County: 96%
|
|
|
BACKGROUND:
|
Operating under the administration of the Countywide Narcotics Task Force (CNTF), the VTTF was established in 1994 for the purpose of reducing incidents of vehicle theft and increasing the arrests and prosecutions of vehicle theft suspects. The VTTF coordinates the activities of County and regional state law enforcement agencies involved in the prevention and investigation of vehicle thefts; provides intensive theft detection, criminal investigation, surveillance, apprehension and arrest of suspects involved in vehicle theft activity; provides ongoing technical and investigative support to individual police departments investigating vehicle theft crimes; and provides both law enforcement investigation training, and theft prevention education to a variety of community groups.
The Advisory Board, composed of County and city law enforcement officials, oversees activities of the VTTF. At present, Sheriff Don Horsley chairs the Advisory Board, and Supervisor Jerry Hill is the Board representative. Other members include District Attorney James Fox, Captain Bridgette Lott of the California Highway Patrol, and Chief Mark Raffaelli of South San Francisco Police Department. Lieutenant Mark Wyss of the Sheriff’s Office is the Joint Task Force Commander for both the VTTF and the Countywide Narcotics Task Force (CNTF).
VTTF’s annual operating budget is self-contained within a special trust fund. Funding derives primarily from Vehicle Code Section 9250.14, which authorizes the County to collect a $1 fee from vehicle registrations to pay for investigation activities. The County has designated the VTTF as the coordinator of those activities. However, the County is still required to issue an annual fiscal year end report to the State Controller summarizing the total revenues received by the County and the total expenditures by the County for the immediately preceding fiscal year. The information in VTTF’s FY 2006-07 Annual Budget, already reviewed and approved by the Advisory Board, will form the basis for the required fiscal report.
|
|
|
DISCUSSION:
|
The VTTF fulltime workforce is comprised of one supervising special agent and three special agents. Administrative oversight and support are provided by the CNTF/VTTF Joint Commander (10% time), and by additional portions of time of two existing Legal Office Specialists (25% time each) and an existing Sheriff’s Financial Crimes & Administrative Sergeant (10% time) who primarily works narcotics operations. Additional expenses include officer overtime pay, operating expenses, County Service Charges, and vehicle replacement.
The VTTF assists city law enforcement agencies in investigations and arrests, officer training, surveillance, undercover operations support, and theft-ring intelligence.
|
|
|
FISCAL IMPACT:
|
The VTTF FY 2006-07 Annual Budget total (gross appropriations) is $817,395, a decrease of $39,313 (approximately 4.59%) over FY 2005-06. This decrease is a result of the 90% salary and benefit reimbursement program which was implemented by the Advisory Board last year. In prior years, contributing agencies received a 100% reimbursement for personnel assigned to the VTTF.
The VTTF operates at no net cost to participating agencies. Salary reimbursements for Sheriff’s Office personnel and shared rental space have been included in the Sheriff’s Office FY 2006-07 Budget.
|
|
|
cc
|
VTTF Advisory Board Members
|