Subject:
Title
Interlocal Agreement with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office for law enforcement services at the St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport for Fiscal Year 2027.
label
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
Approval of the Interlocal Agreement with the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) for law enforcement services at the St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE).
• The Interlocal Agreement with the PCSO ensures full-time law enforcement officer (LEO) coverage at PIE, with 12 LEOs providing 24-hour coverage 7 days a week. For the first time, two of the three busiest shifts will include 1 additional LEO.
• The additional 2 LEOs are included in the “Relief Factor” column of the Worksheet. Last year, the Relief Factor was 1.0, and now it is 1.2. The number of vehicles, equipment or indirect costs are not increasing this year.
• A Transportation Security Administration unfunded federal mandate called the Aviation Worker Screening Program was implemented in Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 that requires airports to implement airport-performed physical screening of aviation worker employees that have unescorted access to restricted areas.
• The cost of the LEOs salaries, benefits, vehicle cost, supervision, and equipment is $3,060,252.00 for FY27. This is a 20.04% increase ($510,948.00) over the FY26 Interlocal Agreement total cost of $2,549,304.00.
• This request is budgeted for in the FY27 Budget of PIE in the Airport Revenue and Operating Fund. In the event that future fiscal year funding is not available for this agreement, the County maintains the authority to terminate this agreement.
Interlocal Agreement in the amount of $3,060,252.00 for a one-year term commencing October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027; Authorize the Chairman to sign and the Clerk of the Circuit Court to attest.
Body
Strategic Plan:
Healthy and Safe Communities
2.2 Enhance community safety
Summary:
This agreement provides 12 deputy sheriffs who are assigned on a full-time basis to PIE, with said deputies scheduled so at least two (2) deputies are on shift covering 24 hours per day, seven (7) days a week, and who shall be continuously present on PIE’s property. Two (2) LEOs are being added to the 2-day shifts to cover PIE’s busier times.
The one-year term in the amount of $3,060,252.00 will commence October 1, 2026, and remain in effect through September 30, 2027, with the intent to renew annually thereafter. This one-year cost represents a 20.04% increase over FY26.
Background Information:
In October 2005, the Board of County Commissioners (Board) approved an Interlocal Agreement with the PCSO for law enforcement services for five (5) one-year terms. The first term commenced October 1, 2005, and remained in effect through September 30, 2006. It was renewed on an annual basis for the term of the agreement and expired September 30, 2010. The Board has approved annual Interlocal Agreements for the period of October 1 through September 30, from FY11 through FY26. On June 30, 2017, an amendment to the Interlocal Agreement, effective June 1, 2017, was approved to increase the deputies scheduled on duty from one (1) to two (2) deputies per shift; increasing the total number of deputies assigned to PIE from seven (7) to 12. This is the first time we have funded additional LEOs since 2017.
Fiscal Impact:
Total contract amount is $3,060,252.00 and includes LEO’s salaries, benefits, vehicle cost, supervision, equipment, a Sergeant, and 6 Airport Security Specialists.
This request is budgeted for in the FY27 Budget of PIE in the Airport Revenue and Operating Fund. In the event that future fiscal year funding is not available for this agreement, the County maintains the authority to terminate this agreement.
Staff Member Responsible:
Mark E. Sprague, Airport Director, St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport
Partners:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Attachments:
Sheriff’s Interlocal Agreement FY27
Sheriff’s Interlocal Agreement FY26