HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes 99-1 Booking Fees County Cities INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM
CITY OF PALM DESERT
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: RAMON A.DIAZ,CITY MANAGER
DATE: JANUARY 14, 1999
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION NO. 99-1URGING RIVERSIDE COUNTY SUPERVISORS TO
REPEAL THE IMPOSITION OF BOOKING FEES ON COUNTY CITIES.
RECOMMENDATION: That the City Council approve the attached resolution requesting Riverside
County to stop charging cities for booking fees.
BACKGROUND: In response to a state budget crisis in 1990/91,the state diverted to its use certain tax
revenues that previously went to counties and then authorized counties to bill cities for the cost of booking
prisoners into county jails as a means for recouping their lost revenue.
This was done at the last minute in the budget deliberations without public hearings or scrutiny. Legislative
staff estimated that booking fees would cost cities$12-$20 million annually: The first year they totaled
$100 million state wide. Several years later,they peaked at$250 million. Therefore,most counties
immediately imposed a booking fee that applies to both contract and non-contract cities:that fee is now
$110.40 and produces$2 million annually for the county.
Booking fees are inequitable because residents of unincorporated areas do not pay for them through their
property taxes,but receive the same service as residents of incorporated cities. The existence of booking
fees also causes cities to do more"cite and release"than are appropriate. There are instances when
criminals should be booked and incarcerated, if even for a very limited period of time,in order to safeguard
the public,yet cities are discouraged from doing so by booking fees;the City pays approximately$134,000
a year for booking fees.
Recently a number of counties, including Orange and Ventura,have eliminated booking fees. Before now it
would have been difficult for Riverside County to abolish booking fees because that have come to rely on
the revenue. However,as a result of the recent tobacco settlement,the County will be receiving new
unrestricted funds of$20 million annually. Many competing interests are seeking a share of the tobacco
settlement. Before this money is committed, it is important that cities make sure that a portion is used to
"back fill"booking fee revenue.
To bring this matter to the attention of County supervisors, it is urged that the City Council approve the
attached resolution and ask all other cities in Riverside County to adopt similar resolutions and work with
their supervisors to repeal booking fees.
Respectfully Submitted, CITY COUNCIL ACTION:
APPROVED ✓ DENIED,
: CE WED OTHER
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RESOLUTION NO. 99-1
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM DESERT,
CALIFORNIA,URGING RIVERSIDE COUNTY SUPERVISORS TO REPEAL
THE IMPOSITION OF BOOKING FEES ON COUNTY CITIES
WHEREAS, The State of California in 1990/91,in response to a state fiscal crisis,
reduced county revenues and authorized counties to charge cities for the cost of booking
prisoners into county jails to offset the lost revenue,and
WHEREAS, Riverside County imposed such a booking fee that now totals$110.40
per booking and generates $2 million of revenue for the County,and
WHEREAS, such booking fees are inequitable because they are only paid by cities;
and residents in unincorporated portions of the county are not charged,and
WHEREAS, booking fees adversely impact public safety because they encourage city
police agencies to"cite and release"even in situations where it would be better to incarcerate
criminals for even a limited time rather than immediately releasing them,and
WHEREAS, revenues that the county will be receiving from the tobacco count
judgment will be more than sufficient to replace revenue lost if booking fees are eliminated;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Palm
Desert that the County Board of Supervisors is hereby urged to abolish booking fees that are
currently charged to cities;
AND, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be forwarded to
all other City Councils in Riverside County urging them to adopt similar resolutions.
PASSED,APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the Palm Desert City
Council, held on this 14 th day of Jan 3 1999, by the following vote,to wit:
AYES: Benson, Crites, Ferguson, Kelly, Spiegel
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
ROBERT A. SPIEGEL,MAYOR
ATTEST:
SHEILA R. GILLIGAN,City Clerk
City of Palm Desert,California