San Mateo County to oversee sheriff’s budget

The level of Sheriff’s Office reserves is currently less than 0.5% of its net appropriated amount, far lower than the requirement of departments to maintain reserves at 4%. This negligent reserve level prompted the move for a county-approved policy to establish oversight of a department out of compliance.

Supervisor Jackie Speier said establishing the oversight is “consistent with our obligation to be watchdogs over our organization.”

In the Sheriff’s Office, reserves have been dipped into to cover an increasing deficit since 2023, according to a staff report. 

“Two of the most important responsibilities of the board are oversight of county programs and prudent expenditure of taxpayer money,” Speier said. “We need to get control of this situation now, not later.” 

County Attorney John Nibbelin made note that operational and departmental decisions still remain in Corpus’ control. 

“We would be wanting to make sure that the oversight does not impact the sheriff’s ability to exercise her constitutionally mandated powers and functions,” Nibbelin said. “The board does set the budget. It’s up to the sheriff, once the money is allocated, to utilize the funds to exercise her powers as set forth.” 

Overtime costs

The vote made on Tuesday was supposed to be approved on consent, with no discussion, but Corpus requested the matter to be placed on the regular agenda or pushed to a further date. 

In a letter to County Attorney John Nibbelin Sept. 21, Corpus said approving the county’s oversight on the Sheriff’s Office budget would unnecessarily strip her authority over the independent office. 

Corpus argued that the reason reserves were so low was because of the immense, and apparently unexpected, cost of an approved double overtime policy for deputies and sergeants. The sheriff said that County Executive Mike Callagy approved the double overtime policy without Corpus’ approval or input.

Corpus described the approval of double overtime, and its burden on the Sheriff’s Office budget, as “entirely outside my control.” 

The sheriff is currently fighting to stay in her elected position as multiple avenues are undertaken to remove her from office over allegations of misconduct and mishandling of the Sheriff’s Office. A key defense of the sheriff is that she is up against union members who have become emboldened due to overarching authority by Callagy and are upset the double overtime policy expired. 

Corpus’ attorney Christopher Ulrich was by the sheriff’s side at the board meeting and gave his own remarks. He and a team of attorneys are working to defend Corpus, most recently in a 10-day evidentiary hearing that will inform the Board of Supervisors’ decision to vote her out of office. 

After concern was raised by Supervisor Noelia Corzo, County Attorney Nibbelin said the county was not paying for the attorney’s time at Tuesday’s board meeting, as the matter was not related to ongoing litigation, but a routine budget matter. 

Callagy responded to Corpus’ allegations at the Board of Supervisors meeting.

“This false narrative about the double overtime has got to stop, it has been debunked at every turn with evidence and it has got to stop,” Callagy said in frustration. 

Callagy said Sheriff Corpus was in fact a key proponent for the double overtime contract because she felt it would be beneficial for staff retention. Callagy said he would be happy to provide the “numerous, numerous emails,” that show Corpus’ intimate involvement in approving the policy. 

The double overtime policy was in place for six months, and amassed a huge, unprecedented cost for the Sheriff’s Office because of its “free for all” nature, Callagy said. 

“I’ve got to say, I’ve never seen anything like it, it was overtime that went completely, completely, out of control,” Callagy said. 

After these extreme costs became known and a report on the costs was requested by the county’s financial officer, Callagy said that Corpus responded “I take full responsibility for not providing more oversight on the double overtime.”  

Callagy closed his remarks by listing the many financial contributions the county has committed to the Sheriff’s Office since Corpus has taken office. He said the county has contributed more funding to the Sheriff’s Office than any other department in the last 2 1/2 years. 

“I cannot remember in the history of this county when we have contributed so much to one department in such a short period of time,” Callagy said. “This revisionist history on this double overtime has got to stop.” 

Bad spending habits 

The sheriff’s spending has been called into question numerous times over the last year, including in regards to questionable requests for 10 massage chairs, a $700,000 TV and $70,000 conference table, Speier said.

Supervisor Corzo also noted that the Sheriff’s Office seems to consistently request approval for contracts just below the $200,000 threshold to intentionally skirt the need for board input. In one case, the Sheriff’s Office has requested approval for multiple contracts, just under $200,000, in one year for the same vendor. 

County policy states any contract above this cost must go to the supervisors for a vote. 

“I think it is an example of poor planning, poor management, and in this case I actually truly believe it was done with intent,” Corzo said. 

Corpus returned to the lectern to “call out Supervisor Corzo.”

“As I am sitting here, she is giving me dirty looks, it is unprofessional of you,” Corpus said. “Have some respect.” 

Speier said the board needed to vote urgently for the simple fact that the Sheriff’s Office reserves are less than half a percent of its budget. 

The Board of Supervisors approved increasing its reserve requirements of departments from 2% to 4% in September 2024 as a means to establish long-term financial security in the county. Departments were told they would have five years to meet that increased obligation. It also approved oversight from the county executive if reserves fall below 2% for over a year, including requiring departments to submit all contracts for review and approval, even those below $200,000. 

One other department in the county currently is maintaining reserves slightly below 2%, at 1.95%, and should it stay below 2% a year from now, it will also require oversight, Callagy said.