POLICING TAB LIKELY TO CLIMB HIKE URGED FOR CONTRACT CITIES.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - The city of Santa Clarita could be charged more for law enforcement this year after a recommendation Tuesday from the county's top administrator to increase Sheriff's Department costs to contract cities.

Santa Clarita is paying $11 million this year for police services, including detectives, specialized teams, supervision, clerical support and equipment.

``The prices are figured out by the auditor-controller,'' said Capt. Don Rodriguez, commander of the local sheriff's station. ``It depends on the overall operations of the Sheriff's Department. The auditor puts it all together and develops a price.''

Rodriguez said he hasn't seen the new contract service rates but that as soon as they are available, he will begin working on a law enforcement budget to recommend to the Santa Clarita City Council. The council has until June 30 to approve a budget, but usually does so well ahead of that deadline.

``Most years it goes up,'' Rodriguez said of the county rates. ``They go up and down depending on cost to run the electricity, cost for gasoline, maintenance and repairs.''

Anticipating the increase, the city treasurer already has placed a 5 percent leeway in the law enforcement costs, increasing the budget by $550,000.

``We did anticipate cost increases this year but we don't know exactly what those would be,'' said Steve Stark, the city's director of administrative services. ``It could be in rates, it could be in service. The 5 percent was a number we put in early in our consideration as part of our budget process.''

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department officials said the new rates have not been formulated but are expected to be released in the next few weeks.

``Until I see the prices, I don't know what impact it will have on the city,'' Rodriguez said. ``There's only so much money available, there are many programs competing for the budget dollar.''

The local budget is expected to be released in May, and will go through a period of deliberation in May and June before a final budget is adopted June 30.

``Generally, over time, the cities tend to increase their staffing because as the community grows the community need for law enforcement grows,'' said Capt. John Ratliff, with the department's Contract Services Bureau. ``We're no different from any other city service.''

The city's $11,071,385 budget covers $9.8 million for general law enforcement; $200,000 for community service officers; $100,000 in special events; $300,000 for a youth education program; $40,000 for parking enforcement; $25,000 in community policing grants; $1,500 in contractual services and $589,885 in liability costs.

The costs include 75 sworn personnel - 33 crime deputies, 23 traffic patrol units; six deputies and a sergeant who investigate juvenile crime; five school deputies; five deputies and a sergeant who runs the Community Interaction Team; and one community relations deputy.

COP DOLLARS

Sheriff's Department budget for the past five years:

1997-97 $9,560,000

1998-98 $10,052,890

1999-2000 $10,348,740

2000-01 $10,818,145

2001-02 $11,071,385

2002-03 $11,624,954 (anticipated 5% increase)

Breakdown of total costs:

General law enforcement $9,815,000

Community service officers $200,000

Special events $100,000

STAR program $300,000

Parking citation $40,000

COPS grant $25,000

Contractual services $1,500

Liability costs $589,885

Total $11,071,385

CAPTION(S):

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COP DOLLARS (see text)

Source: Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and city of Santa Clarita.