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Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office
<br />Contract Law Enforcement & Public Safety Services
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<br />Contract Communities Budget Estimate for 2026
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<br />pressures, several line items were not increased. The emergency response team (SWAT – Special
<br />Weapons & Tactics) contribution was reduced by $28,000, and set at $12,000 per community, in
<br />alignment with all suburban communities.
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<br />Additional Considerations
<br />In 2026, the following items will be monitored as they relate to the overall budget, staffing plans, and
<br />overtime costs:
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<br />• Increased paid parental leave – effective January 1, 2025, the county recently increased paid
<br />parental leave from three weeks to eight weeks.
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<br />• New state law for paid leave – a new state law effective January 1, 2026, will provide for paid
<br />medical leave.
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<br />• Additional vacation hours and additional floating holiday – as part of the labor contracts, the
<br />county approved additional vacation time and an additional floating holiday.
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<br />• Other leaves/light duty – as with every year, leaves (i.e., medical, military) and light duty (i.e.,
<br />injuries, temporary work restrictions) assignments require ongoing management to ensure the
<br />necessary coverage.
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<br />To support the ongoing wellness efforts, contracted mental health providers recommended increasing
<br />time off earlier in a career to reduce burnout, stress, and trauma. More time off earlier in a career leads
<br />to better long-term outcomes for staff to remain in the profession until retirement. This early
<br />investment will lead to less disability retirements, early retirements, and increased morale. Additionally,
<br />the implementation of new labor contracts that were approved in May of 2025 and retroactively applied
<br />will be ongoing in 2025 and 2026.
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<br />Summary
<br />The 2026 budget estimate provides for competitive wages, no new positions, and minimized cost
<br />increases for internal services and other line items all while prioritizing critical services, such as law
<br />enforcement, emergency response, community outreach, and crime prevention for each community.
<br />The largest cost driver for 2026 is personnel costs. The support of Contract Communities in realizing
<br />competitive wages so the Sherif’s Office can continue to attract and retain a talented, diverse workforce
<br />is very much appreciated.
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<br />Contracting law enforcement and public safety services with the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office offers
<br />many advantages, including cost savings and additional resources during emergencies and critical
<br />incidents. The sharing of personnel and resources – supervision, administration (i.e., finance, human
<br />resources, labor relations, communications, media/public information, grants, procurement,
<br />technology, etc.), facilities, vehicles, equipment, and training – help to reduce and control operating
<br />costs. In addition to the attached budget estimate, a summary of cost per resident for law enforcement
<br />and public safety services by community is included.
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