COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

SHERIFF’S OFFICE

DATE:

June 11, 2009

BOARD MEETING DATE:

June 23, 2009

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Sheriff Greg Munks

SUBJECT:

Countywide Vehicle Theft Task Force FY 2008-09 Budget

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a resolution approving the Countywide Vehicle Theft Task Force (VTTF) FY 2008-09 Budget, totaling $832,484, as recommended by the VTTF Advisory Board.

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitment: Ensure basic health and safety for all.

Goal 7: Maintain and enhance the public safety of all residents and visitors.

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS:

Calendar Year

2007

Actual

Calendar Year 2008

Actual

Calendar Year 2009

Estimated

County’s statewide percentage of Vehicle theft vs. Registered vehicles

Vehicle Thefts:
0.99%

Reg. Vehicles:

2.23%

Vehicle Thefts: 1.21%

Reg. Vehicles: 2.21%

Vehicle Thefts: 1.4%

Reg. Vehicles:

2%

Recovery rate of stolen vehicles

(State average vs. County)

State: 88%
County: 85%

State: 87%

County: 80%

State: 87%

County: 85%

* While the stolen vehicle recovery rate in San Mateo County is 7% lower than the state average, San Mateo County represents less than 1.1% of all vehicles stolen in California. San Mateo County actually recovered 195 more vehicles in 2008 than in 2007. There were 2,291 vehicle recoveries in CY 2007 vs. 2,486 vehicle recoveries in CY 2008.

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. The Advisory Board includes representation from the Board of Supervisors, and Sheriff Munks and DA Fox are working with the Board to identify a replacement for Supervisor Hill, who previously served on the Board when this budget was approved. In addition, the Board includes representation from CHP and the Police Chiefs and Sheriff’s Association. Lieutenant Marc Alcantara of the Sheriff’s Office is the Joint Task Force Commander for both the Vehicle Theft Task Force (VTTF) and the Countywide Narcotics Task Force (CNTF).

The 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. Although Section 9250.14 is scheduled to sunset on January 1, 2010, the Legislature is considering AB 286, which would extend the authorization until 2018. The County has designated the VTTF as the coordinator of those activities. The County is 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 2008-09 Annual Budget, already reviewed and approved by the Advisory Board, will form the basis for the required fiscal report. Because the VTTF board is advisory, the budget has historically been submitted to and approved by the Board of Supervisors.

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 realizes 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 not been increased since inception, although costs have risen and vehicle thefts are once again on the rise. Based on the annual revenue source being fixed and operating costs continuing to increase, 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 due to a transition in command at the VTTF. The California State Sheriff’s Association continues their on-going effort 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 Vehicle Theft Task Force FY 2008-09 Annual Budget total (gross appropriations) is $832,484, a decrease of $36,049 (approximately 4.15%) from FY 2007-08. The overall decrease to the budget for FY 2008-09 is a result of reductions to overtime, equipment, service contracts, and the elimination of funding for vehicle replacement.

Salary reimbursements for Sheriff’s Office personnel and shared rental space have already been included in the Sheriff’s Office FY 2008-09 Budget. There is no net increase to the County General Fund incurred by adoption of this budget.

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VTTF Advisory Board Members