COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

COUNTYWIDE VEHICLE THEFT TASK FORCE

DATE:

November 27, 2007

BOARD MEETING DATE:

December 18, 2007

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Sheriff Greg Munks

SUBJECT:

Countywide Vehicle Theft Task Force FY 2007-08 Budget

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a resolution approving the Countywide Vehicle Theft Task Force (VTTF) FY 2007-08 Budget, totaling $868,533, 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:

CY 2006

Actual

CY 2007

Projected

County’s statewide percentage of:
vehicle theft vs. registered vehicles

Vehicle Thefts: 1.2%

Reg. Vehicles: 2.1%

Vehicle Thefts: 1.1%

Reg. Vehicles: 2.1%

Recovery rate of stolen vehicles

(State average vs. County)

State: 89%
County: 87%

State: 89%

County: 85%

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 Greg Munks 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 the 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 2007-08 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 Special Agent Supervisor and three Special Agents. Currently, a San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant supervises the activities of the VTTF. Special Agents assigned to the Task force consist of one Corporal from the South San Francisco Police Department, an Officer from the California Highway Patrol, and a Deputy Sheriff from the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office. 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 San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office and the South San Francisco Police Department experience a 10%-of-actual cost (salary & benefits) for their contribution of personnel to the VTTF. The California Highway Patrol realize a 50%-of-actual cost (salary & benefits) for their contribution of an Officer to the Vehicle Theft Task Force.

The annual vehicle registration surcharge of $1.00 per vehicle has never been increased since inception, although costs have risen and vehicle thefts are once again on the rise. Because the revenue annual revenue source is fixed while costs are increasing, and because of tightening law enforcement budgets throughout the County, it has been harder in recent years to secure officer assignment commitments from participating agencies. The submission of this annual budget was delayed this year partly due to extended negotiations to secure a working task force contingent. The California State Sheriff’s Office is continuing to work with the Governor and the Legislature to authorize an increase in the vehicle registration surcharge from $1.00 per vehicle, to $2.00 per vehicle, to help adjust the funding source to match today’s dollar costs for vehicle theft enforcement.

County Counsel has reviewed this document as to legal form.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The VTTF FY 2007-08 Annual Budget total (gross appropriations) is $868,533, an increase of $51,138 (approximately 6.2%) over FY 2006-07. The overall increase to the budget for FY 2007-08 is a result of increased salary and benefit packages associated with Sheriff’s Office personnel assigned to the VTTF.

Salary reimbursements for Sheriff’s Office personnel and shared rental space have already been included in the Sheriff’s Office FY 2007-08 Budget. There is no net increase to the County General Fund incurred by adoption of this budget.

cc

VTTF Advisory Board Members

SAN MATEO COUNTY

VEHICLE THEFT TASK FORCE

FY2007/2008 - BUDGET

(Adopted by VTTF Board on May 24, 2007)

Budget

Actual

Actual

Budget

Recommended Budget

Increase/Decrease

Account

Description

6/30/2005

6/30/2006

FY 2006-07

FY 2007-08

(+/-)

Salaries & Benefits

4000

Permanent Positions

SMSO Commander (Lieutenant)

$20,265

$19,953

$17,993

$21,552

$3,559

SMSO Special Agent Supervisor (Sergeant)

$17,243

$17,533

$16,167

$20,117

$3,950

SMSO Special Agent Supervisor (Sergeant - J Flahavan)

$171,748

$172,255

$163,589

$201,674

$38,085

CHP Special Agent (Detective - Andrews, M)

$78,690

$90,572

$97,893

$69,353

-$28,540

City Position (Vacant)

$10,005

$0

$0

$0

$0

SSF Special Agent (Detective - Michael Garcia) @ 90%

$51,777

$82,542

$108,396

$117,808

$9,412

SMSO Special Agent (Detective - P. Callies)

$145,816

$148,191

$143,199

$175,065

$31,866

Legal Office Specialist (SMSO)

$18,984

$20,121

$21,660

$17,057

-$4,603

Legal Office Specialist ( SMSO)

$20,121

$21,660

$18,181

-$3,479

Year-End Adjustments

($46,760)

$0

Subtotal Perm. Positions:

$514,528

$524,529

$590,557

$640,808

$50,251

NB. SMSO S&B cost is @ 90% of the allocated cost.

Agent Overtime Expense

4172

Overtime Expense covers following:

$20,519

$24,130

$30,000

$30,000

$0

Administration

Reports

Field Operations

Court Time

Total Agent Overtime Expense:

$20,519

$24,130

$30,000

$30,000

$0

Total Salaries & Wages:

$535,047

$548,659

$620,557

$670,808

$50,251

Services & Supplies

5123

Uniform Allowance ( 2 agents)

$1,300

$1,650

$1,650

$1,650

$0

5124

Safety Equipment

$0

$1,910

$3,000

$3,000

$0

5132

Direct Communications Expense

$483

$271

$450

$450

$0

5162

Photo Supplies

$138

$0

$250

$250

$0

5163

Laboratory Supplies

$0

$0

$100

$0

-$100

5191

Outside Printing & Copying

$1,183

$797

$1,195

$1,195

$0

5192

Paper Products

$301

$173

$350

$750

$400

5193

General Office Supplies

$3,955

$2,959

$3,500

$3,500

$0

5194

Book & Manuals

$44

$43

$350

$350

$0

5195

Subscriptions

$486

$681

$650

$650

$0

5197

Postage & Mailing Expense

$52

$0

$75

$75

$0

5198

Office Water Expense

$10

$55

$250

$250

$0

5199

Other Misc. Office Expense

$23

$36

$275

$275

$0

5211

Computer Supplies/Maint/Repairs

$58

$349

$750

$750

$0

5212

VTTF LAN Equipment

$0

$0

$800

$0

-$800

5213

PC/LAN Software

$0

$0

$800

$0

-$800

5215

Software License Expense

$0

$0

$550

$550

$0

5232

Surveillance Equipment

$2,258

$2,322

$2,500

$2,500

$0

5234

Office Furniture & Computer Equipment

$0

$0

$800

$800

$0

5235

Institution Furnishings/Equipment

$0

$0

$1,000

$0

-$1,000

5236

Task Force Office Remodel (VTTF)

$0

$1,487

$500

$0

-$500

5331

Membership

$0

$300

$300

5413

Motor Vehicle Maintenance

$14

$32

$0

$0

$0

5415

Vehicle Repair & Towing

$238

$1,531

$1,800

$1,800

$0

5416

Gasoline Expense (Chevron Gas Card)

$1,036

$167

$2,200

$1,500

-$700

5417

Tires & Tubes Expense

$0

$0

$650

$0

-$650

5421

Alarm System Maintenance (Upgrade 1/3)

$218

$0

$0

$0

$0

5424

Radio Maintenance (regular)

$2,735

$1,301

$2,500

$2,500

$0

5425

Copier Maintenance

$0

$0

$1,000

$0

-$1,000

5426

Other General Office Expenses

$0

$0

$250

$250

$0

5428

Other Equip Maint/Repairs

$0

$0

$500

$500

$0

5442

Locks & Security System Exp. (incl. mthly monitoring)

$1,772

$1,803

$2,500

$2,500

$0

5444

VTTF LAN Network Installation

$0

$0

$250

$0

-$250

5614

Professional/Project Insurance

$0

$0

$100

$0

-$100

5635

Water Service (Utility)

$416

$495

$650

$650

$0

5641

Cellphone Expense (Direct Bill)

$3,465

$3,508

$5,500

$5,500

$0

5714

Travel Expense

$0

$0

$250

$0

-$250

5721

Meetings & Conferences

$0

$0

$500

$500

$0

5723

VTTF Board Expense

$0

$0

$100

$100

$0

5722

Misc Employee Expense Reimb

$0

$0

$250

$250

$0

5731

Training & Education

$3,511

$5,107

$6,500

$6,500

$0

5875

Service Contracts/VTTF Ops Manual/Database

$0

$0

$1,500

$0

-$1,500

5891

Guns & Ammunition

$0

$0

$500

$500

$0

5894

Protective Equipment

$256

$0

$1,500

$1,500

$0

5897

Special Investigation Funds

$1,500

$0

$2,500

$2,500

$0

5899

Criminology Expense

$0

$0

$150

$0

-$150

5969

Other Misc. Dept Expense

$0

$0

$50

$0

-$50

5971

M/Vehicle Replac. Exp. (Outside Lease Exp. x 1 car)

$0

$0

$0

$0

$0

Total Services & Supplies:

$25,450

$26,677

$51,495

$44,345

-$7,150

Other Charges

$0

$0

6712

Telephone/Pager Service-ISD

$4,041

$3,293

$5,250

$5,390

$140

6713

Information Services-ISD

$5,391

$6,713

$8,500

$3,028

-$5,472

Non-County Facility Rent:

$0

6715

La Selva Offices

$38,070

$32,632

$33,620

$34,608

$988

6716

VTTF Warehouse (San Carlos - New)

$32,759

$30,341

$31,777

$49,329

$17,552

6717

Motor Pool Vehicle Usage

$30,150

$35,600

$29,235

$24,435

-$4,800

6717

Motor Vehicle - Lease (County Lease x 1)

$0

$7,020

$7,020

$0

6724

Auto Liability Insurance

$5,561

$1,270

$3,295

$2,025

6725

General Liability

$594

$726

$944

$1,227

$283

6727

Bond Insurance

$48

$48

$48

$48

$0

6734

Motor Vehicle Replacement

$0

$2,679

-$2,679

6739

Message Switch/AWS Charges

$0

Total Other Charges:

$111,053

$114,914

$120,343

$128,380

$8,037

Capital Expenses

7311

One Vehicle (used)

0

0

$25,000

$25,000

$0

Total Capital Expense:

$0

$0

$25,000

$25,000

$0

Gross Appropriation:

$671,550

$690,250

$817,395

$868,533

$51,138

VTTF Financing

333

VTTF Unadjusted Starting Fund Bal. - 7/1

$180,897

$208,588

$190,250

$299,826

$109,576

Adjusted for Prior Year Commitments

333

VTTF Net Available Fund Balance

$180,897

$208,588

$190,250

$299,826

$109,576

0913

DMV $1 Surcharge

$691,618

$693,672

$691,618

$691,618

$0

0912

Interest Earned

$7,509

$10,454

$8,234

$12,000

$3,766

various

Misc. Other Revenue

$114

$1,405

$1,500

$1,500

$0

JE Transfers

Total Financing

$880,138

$914,119

$891,602

$1,004,944

$113,342

333

Unadjusted Closing Fund Balance:

$208,588

$223,869

$74,207

$136,411

$62,204