The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department, and the County itself are in the midst of the most challenging time in the region’s history.  After years of rampant growth and robust development, the financial machine in the region has come to an abrupt and shocking halt.  Sacramento County is unique, insofar as there has, for many years, been a large and very densely populated unincorporated area in which the public has grown to expect solid and reliable municipal services similar to that of any incorporated city.  In recent years, several communities within the county have incorporated, keeping sales tax revenues in their local coffers.  In spite of revenue neutrality agreements between the cities, and the County of Sacramento, the loss of sales and property tax revenue has made the County’s mission of delivering municipal services, including policing the vast area far more difficult. 

These factors, in conjunction with the global economic crisis and costly employee contracts have created a significant fiscal crisis, forcing layoffs of nearly a thousand county employees, including members of the Sheriff’s Department.  As the economic crisis continues, the leadership within the Sheriff’s Department and County Government are working diligently with the labor groups representing the majority of Sheriff’s Department employees, in the spirit of seeking modifications to employee contracts which will eliminate the need for layoffs this year.  Without such concessions, there will be a need for more layoffs in the very near future.  While such a development would be detrimental to the well being of nearly 70 members of the Sheriff’s Department, the reality is the consequences to the quality of life and fiscal health of the community would be even more significant, and the ramifications would be devastating to the County of Sacramento for years to come. 

We have enjoyed an excellent working relationship with the County Executive and his staff, as well as the leadership of the Sacramento County Deputy Sheriff’s Association and the Law Enforcement Managers Association.  I anxiously await the results of these efforts and look forward to working toward better public safety in the weeks to come.   

John McGinness
Sacramento County Sheriff