SHERIFF'S FORCE WANTS RATE HIKE.

Byline: David Greenberg Daily News Staff Writer

Because it had to give pay raises to its employees, the Ventura County Sheriff's Department is seeking a 3.2 percent rate hike from the five cities that contract for its services.

With the increase, Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, Camarillo, Ojai and Fillmore will pay an estimated $21.6 million, retroactive to July 1, 1997, for police protection this fiscal year.

``As contracts go up, the rates we'll have to charge the cities go up,'' said Marty Robinson, the county's chief deputy administrative officer.

The rate hike, which the Board of Supervisors is expected to approve Tuesday, will increase the department's $120 million budget by roughly $500,000.

The spending plan also covers the unincorporated areas and the $31 million county jail system, which are not part of the rate hike.

No staffing changes will result from the budget hike.

``That doesn't mean any more bodies out there,'' said Dante Honorico, chief deputy for support services.

Rates are determined based on the number of employees covering a city and the degree of services they provide.

The bulk of the increase is attributable to the pay increases for most of the department's 1,200 employees, including 750 sworn officers.

The new budget breakdown for the five participating cities is $11 million for Thousand Oaks, $2.85 for Moorpark, $4.9 million for Camarillo, $1.5 million for Fillmore and $1.3 million for Ojai.