Since 2015, Solvang’s law enforcement costs have doubled, increasing from about $1.5 million to $3.4 million.
“That’s 107 percent increase over the last 10 years for the same baseline services,” Assistant City Manager Olivia Uribe-Mutal told the Solvang City Council during its May 26 meeting. “Over that same time, the city has experienced consistent concerns over service levels.”
When the city was formed in 1985, it began contracting with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office for law enforcement services. The baseline level of service is essentially one patrol car staffed 24/7—or the equivalent of 5.5 full-time deputies—that serves the city of 6,000 people. In recent years, the city has had consistent concerns about service issues that “have not been resolved” over traffic enforcement, accountability, statistical reporting, event coverage, and cost issues, Uribe-Mutal said.
“We have never had any other law enforcement provider,” she said. “When the city’s largest expenditure is also its least accountable line item, then we have a problem that requires attention.”
City management has been actively looking at alternatives over the last six months, she said, adding that staff believes a “city-to-city arrangement” with Lompoc could be worth pursuing. The city of Buellton is also looking into what its cost-to-service ratio might look like if it contracts with the Lompoc Police Department to provide law enforcement services instead of the Sheriff’s Office, Uribe-Mutal added.
Both cities were frustrated with the last-minute cost increases involved in the current contract with the Sheriff’s Office, which ends in June 2027. At the time, in 2023, Solvang requested performance metrics from the Sheriff’s Office, which responded by saying it couldn’t provide the statistics the city was looking for without charging more.
Solvang doesn’t have any problems with the local deputies who provide the law enforcement services, City Manager Randy Murphy said. It’s simply about value.
“We don’t believe we’re getting what we’re paying for,” he said. “ … $3.4 million is a lot of money, and that’s what’s driving this discussion, driving this request.”
Lompoc Police Chief Kevin Martin assured him that Lompoc can give Solvang a better value for the cost, Murphy said. Martin told the council that with a city of 43,000, he receives about $9 million a year to fund the department, which consists of 51 sworn police officers and about 25 professional staff.
“Wow, we’re paying 3-for-1,” Councilmember Elizabeth Orona said in response.
“Cost comparison, there’s no comparison,” Murphy added. “We could have a third of his department working in the city of Solvang for the same money.”
Orona added that the council wasn’t simply concerned with the cost of the Sheriff’s Office contract but also with what it sees as a lack of data, innovation, and efficiency. Part of the service the Lompoc Police Department would provide includes monthly updates and an annual report, which is what it currently does for Lompoc, Martin said.
“One other thing that we’re not getting is transparency,” Orona said. “Already it sounds like we would be able to understand quickly what we’re getting for our share.”
Councilmember Mark Infante wondered about how much start-up costs might be, including purchasing a patrol vehicle, getting officers trained, and buying equipment. Murphy said he anticipated it would cost at least $500,000.
Mayor David Brown reminded everyone that the decision made that night was simply to explore the option of contracting with Lompoc and dive into the details of what that might looks like.
The council unanimously approved that exploration, as well as the potential of extending the Sheriff’s Office contract for one more year if everything couldn’t be buttoned up with Lompoc before the current contract expires. City staff is aiming to negotiate the potential city-to-city contract over the summer and bring it to the council in September.
This article appears in June 4 – June 11, 2026.
