City of Solvang to Break Up 40-Year Partnership with Sheriff’s Office?

Solvang Eyes End to Four-Decade Sheriff's Partnership

Solvang city leaders voted on May 26 to begin negotiations with the Lompoc Police Department to potentially replace the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office, which has provided law enforcement services to the Danish-themed city since its 1985 incorporation.

The decision marks a potential end to a partnership spanning more than four decades, driven by what city officials describe as escalating costs and diminishing value from the Sheriff's Office contract.

Soaring Costs Drive Change

The Santa Barbara Independent reported that contract costs with the Sheriff's Office have increased 107 percent in the past decade, rising from $1.56 million in fiscal year 2015/2016 to an estimated $3.4 million for the 2026/2027 fiscal year. Even when adjusted for inflation, the original 2015/2016 cost would be approximately $2.19 million today.

"This is strictly a value awareness [with] the idea being that we don't believe we're getting what we're paying for," City Manager Randy Murphy told the council.

For its current $3.4 million annual payment, Solvang receives one patrol car posted 24/7, equivalent to 5.5 full-time deputies when accounting for training, vacation and sick leave. The city's concerns include insufficient traffic enforcement, limited code enforcement, inconsistent event coverage, and incomplete police activity statistics.

Previous Contract Disputes

This isn't the first time Solvang has clashed with the Sheriff's Office over costs. In 2022, four cities contracting with the Sheriff's Office—Solvang, Buellton, Goleta, and Carpinteria—entered legal mediation after the Sheriff's Office proposed a 44 percent rate increase over two years.

The dispute arose when the Sheriff's Office implemented a revised cost methodology that resulted in proposed increases ranging from 40 to 51 percent for each city. The cities argued these increases were "not justified or sustainable" and that the Sheriff's Office lacked the capacity to properly implement its new costing model.

The mediation ultimately resulted in settlements, with cities accepting smaller increases than originally proposed.

Lompoc Police as Alternative

Solvang is now considering the Lompoc Police Department, which has undergone significant rebuilding in recent years. According to a 2024 annual report, the Lompoc Police Department currently has 51 sworn officers serving a community of 44,000 residents, with an $18 million annual budget.

The department has recovered from significant staffing challenges in the late 2010s and early 2020s. A 2021 Santa Barbara County Grand Jury report noted that Lompoc's police force had been "handicapped" by budget limitations and lost a third of its officers between 2015 and 2022. By 2024, the department was nearly fully staffed with 47 sworn personnel.

Lompoc Police Chief Kevin Martin attended Solvang's May 26 council meeting and proposed stationing a lieutenant in Solvang to work directly with city leadership and attend council meetings when Martin couldn't.

Financial Implications

The transition would require startup costs estimated at $500,000 for equipment, vehicle purchases, and officer training and hiring, according to City Manager Murphy. Assistant City Manager Olivia Uribe Mutal said the city is seeking three key pieces of information from Lompoc: an "apples to apples" cost comparison with current services, minimum staffing levels Lompoc could provide, and what services Solvang would receive for its current $3.4 million Sheriff's Office payment.

The current Sheriff's Office contract expires June 30, 2027, with options for three one-year extensions. If negotiations with Lompoc succeed, the police department would begin serving Solvang on July 1, 2027.

Regional Ripple Effects

The potential change extends beyond Solvang. Assistant City Manager Uribe Mutal indicated that Buellton is also considering a similar switch, though Buellton City Manager Scott Wolfe said his city council hasn't yet formally taken up the matter.

The Sheriff's Office, which provides contracted services to Buellton, Carpinteria, Goleta, and Solvang, defended its track record in a statement to the Independent: "Since 1985 when the City incorporated, the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Office has provided exemplary service to the City of Solvang."

The Sheriff's Office emphasized its advantages as "the County's largest full-service public safety agency," providing "immediate access to specialized investigative units, mental health co-response, air support, tactical teams, and forensic services that smaller standalone agencies" cannot replicate.

Sheriff Bill Brown stated the relationship with Solvang "has been built over many years through collaboration, trust, and a shared commitment to excellence in public safety" and that his office remains "committed to productive conversations that prioritize the needs of the community."