OpenCampaign

Public Safety

Law enforcement liability and contract city costs

County leaders identified rising law enforcement liability exposure and premium increases for the 14 contract cities that buy Sheriff’s services. The board approved using $20 million from the General Fund Liability Reserve to strengthen law enforcement liability funding and a $5 million one-time subsidy to offset roughly half of those cities’ premium hikes in the 2026–27 budget, amid broader public-safety capital and operations investments.

Should San Bernardino County use general-fund reserves to cover rising Sheriff liability costs and subsidize contract cities’ premiums?

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Sources

San Bernardino County leadership — https://main.sbcounty.gov/2026/05/07/countys-2026-27-budget-workshop-balances-strategic-investments-with-economic-uncertainty
Allocating $20 million from the County General Fund Liability Reserve to strengthen the county’s law enforcement liability funding levels Providing a $5 million one-time subsidy from the County General Fund Liability Reserve to help offset approximately 50 percent of premium increases faced by the county’s 14 contract cities for Sheriff’s Department services
Vice Chair and Fifth District Supervisor Joe Baca, Jr. — https://main.sbcounty.gov/2026/06/11/supervisors-approve-balanced-2026-27-budget-investing-over-273-million-in-county-priorities
From significant investments in capital improvements and programs that support our most vulnerable residents, this budget positions us to meet today’s needs while preparing for the future.
Positions on this issue  ·  liberal → conservative
  1. Expand county subsidies and liability funding while adding civilian oversight and reform conditions
  2. Continue reserve transfers and partial premium relief so contract cities can keep Sheriff services
  3. Provide limited one-time help then require cities and the county to share long-term liability costs
  4. Reduce subsidies; cities should pay full premiums or seek alternative policing arrangements
  5. End general-fund liability backstops and cut Sheriff contract scope to lower taxpayer exposure

Public safety capital and technology investments

Of priority and capital funding in the 2026–27 budget, tens of millions are directed to county facility and operational capital improvements (including public safety), technology modernization, and explicit public-safety and community-concern allocations, while leaders stress fiscal restraint under slower revenue growth.

How much should San Bernardino County invest in public-safety facilities and technology upgrades in the current budget cycle?

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Sources

San Bernardino County leadership — https://main.sbcounty.gov/2026/05/07/countys-2026-27-budget-workshop-balances-strategic-investments-with-economic-uncertainty
$77.2 million for county facility and operational capital improvements $57.5 million for technology modernization and county system upgrades $27.8 million to address public safety and community concerns
San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors — https://main.sbcounty.gov/2026/06/11/supervisors-approve-balanced-2026-27-budget-investing-over-273-million-in-county-priorities
The budget also dedicates $77.2 million from the general fund to capital projects, much of it supporting public safety
Positions on this issue  ·  liberal → conservative
  1. Increase capital and tech spending with equal investment in community violence prevention
  2. Support substantial public-safety facility and systems upgrades as budgeted
  3. Fund critical repairs and cybersecurity first, deferring lower-priority expansions
  4. Trim capital outlays and favor operational patrol staffing over new facilities
  5. Cut public-safety capital and tech budgets to maximize immediate taxpayer savings