Countywide : Bill to Revoke Jail Fee Faces Opposition

The Board of Supervisors will be asked at today’s meeting to oppose a proposed state law that would revoke the controversial jail booking fees to be imposed on cities this summer.

Senate Bill 169 would repeal another law approved last year that authorized counties to charge the jail booking fee and property tax administration fees, which met with opposition from the county’s school districts. Both fees were designed to make up for a $22.4-million reduction in funds to Orange County from the state.

In a memo to supervisors, County Administrative Officer Ernie Schneider said the property tax administration and jail booking fees will generate $16.5 million. The property tax fee has already been imposed, and the jail booking fee will go into effect in July. However, the amount generated will not be enough to make up for the decrease in funds from the state, he said.

Cities, which would pay the county $154 for every inmate booked into Orange County jails, objected strongly to the county trying to make up for their shortfalls at their expense. The booking fees will cost the city of Santa Ana from $3 million to $4 million a year, an amount that represents about 4% of the city’s general fund, officials have said.

The county is charging cities and school districts for collecting and distributing the latter’s shares of property tax revenue. County officials say this fee represents the cost of staff time involved in this process.