\u201cThe cost increases were substantial and unexplained, far exceeding growth in comparable California jurisdictions,\u201d Moore said at a Sept. 9 community meeting. \u201cWe are not asking for the impossible. We are asking for legal compliance and transparent accounting.\u201d<\/p>\n
In June, the two sides agreed to a three-month extension<\/a> of contract talks through Sept. 30.<\/p>\n In August, the three cities released an independent auditor report<\/a> that said the county was wrongly charging $10.7 million in annual overhead in violation of state law \u2013 an amount roughly equal to the proposed increase. County officials disagreed and said the overhead accounting is compliant.<\/p>\n Saratoga approved its new contract with the sheriff\u2019s office on Aug. 19. However, the city is still considering a potential partnership with the Los Gatos\u2013Monte Sereno Police Department as an alternative. Los Altos Hills approved the contract on Aug. 31.<\/p>\n Cupertino intended to fight on alone and asked the county for a second three-month extension. But County Executive James R. Williams denied that request in a Sept. 13 email to the city.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Sheriff\u2019s Office is quite clearly the most cost-effective pathway forward even under the new contract methodology,\u201d Williams said. \u201cI continue to believe that the best use of our collective time is in engaging in thoughtful and collaborative strategies that mutually reduce the growth in cost. \u2026 Continued engagement in back-and-forth on this current contract is not going to further those efforts.\u201d\u00a0 Santa Clara County Supervisor Margaret Abe-Koga, who represents District 5 which includes Cupertino, said the sheriff\u2019s deputies working in the city needed clarity.<\/p>\n \u201cThey have been living with uncertainty for the past three months and longer,\u201d Abe-Koga told San Jos\u00e9 Spotlight. \u201cThey cannot go month to month wondering, \u2018Where do I report next week? What will my hours be? What childcare arrangements will I need to make?\u2019 Additionally, (Williams) was clear with all (three) cities at a meeting at the end of May that this would be the one extension.\u201d<\/p>\n Santa Clara County\u2019s resistance is not surprising given its budget pressures, which required cutting services in June to eliminate a $787 million deficit<\/a>.<\/p>\n Cupertino also faces budget pressures, but for now is avoiding any cuts in people or programs.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have budgeted the full amount (of the new sheriff\u2019s contract) for the current fiscal year (ending June 30, 2027), resulting in a temporary deficit supported by available fund balance,\u201d City Manager Tina Kapoor told San Jos\u00e9 Spotlight. \u201cWe are hoping the costs will come down in future years, or (there will be) increased revenues, so the city does not have to consider service reductions.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"In-line](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1789672210_368_interactive-321838904008.png\")
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