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Interesting read. My take away is $6.7 million per year to run an agency which is roughly the same size as the Town of Atherton. (Note, that the 2010-2011 budget is a partial year; see the exhibit at the end for full year cost and calculations.)
Alternatively, the Atherton Police Department budget is under $5.1 million:
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I have seen repeated claims that outsourcing the Atherton Police Department to the County Sheriff would save the Town $2 million / year.
Now that I have reviewed the San Carlos agreement, I have to question the validity of that "fact". The County - San Carlos agreement would have to be reduced in scope and cost by $3.6 million to achieve the speculated $2 million savings.
I can only wonder what service levels the residents might receive for $3.6 million / year -- if they could even get it for that price.