Carpinteria City Council votes to take more time to resolve contract dispute with Sheriff’s office

CARPINTERIA, Calif. - Half of the cities in Santa Barbara County don't have their own police departments including Carpinteria, Buellton, Goleta and Solvang.

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office provides officers to police their areas.

But lately city leaders in Carpintera have been surprised by the rising cost.

Carpinteria leaders are looking at a 37 percent increase that would cost the city more than a million dollars.

At Monday night's city council meeting, city leaders considered a letter from the sheriff's office asking for a 45-day extension to resolve the issue.

Carpinteria Mayor Wade Nomura said, "We've had a great relationship with the Sheriff's Department. They've got great staff, excellent staff, it's a matter of contract negotiations right now. I think, for us to come in with as high an increase as we have to deal with, it is going to be an excessive burden for the city."

After city staff recommended the extension council members voted unanimously to extend the negotiations until April 26.

The council also talked about hiring a consultant to study cost calclutations.

Carpinteria will team up with the other cities to resolve the issue.

Carpinteria has three police officers who wear deputy uniforms and they share a substation with three deputies on the side of city hall.

The Sheriff's office pays a fee for the space and uses it to respond to the unincorporated areas nearby.

The Sheriff's office is in discussions with all four cities and will be holding off on further comments.

To watch the meeting visit the city website.