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 2026.
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.
• 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.
• 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 12 LEOs salaries, benefits, vehicle cost, supervision, and equipment is $2,057,946.00 for FY26. This is a 5.4% increase over the FY25 Interlocal Agreement total cost of $1,952,490.00.
• The cost of the 6 Airport Security Specialists is $491,360.00. This is an 8.9% increase over the FY25 Interlocal Agreement’s cost of $451,038.00.
• The total cost of the FY26 Interlocal Agreement is $2,549,304.00, which is a 6.07% increase over the total of the FY25 Agreement, which was $2,403,528.00.
• Funding for this Interlocal Agreement is included in the FY26 Proposed Operating and Capital Budget, funded by the Airport Revenue and Operating Fund, in the amount of $2,644,000.00.
Approve the Interlocal Agreement in the amount of $2,549,304.00 for a one-year term commencing October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026; Authorize the Chairman to sign and the Clerk of the Circuit Court to attest.
Body
Strategic Plan:
Ensure Public Health, Safety, and Welfare
2.1 Provide planning, coordination, prevention, and protective services to ensure a safe and secure community
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. Last year, a TSA federal mandate required the County hire 6 new Airport Security Specialists, and because of the additional 6 employees, a PCSO Sergeant is also required to be located at PIE.
The one-year term in the amount of $2,549,304.00 will commence October 1, 2025, and remain in effect through September 30, 2026, with the intent to renew annually thereafter. This one-year cost represents a 6.07% increase over FY25, because of the Aviation Worker Screening program that is a TSA mandate for all commercial-service airports.
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 FY25. On June 30, 2017, an amendment to the Interlocal Agreement, effective June 1, 2017, was approved increasing 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. The number of deputies scheduled on duty at PIE has remained constant since FY17.
Fiscal Impact:
Total contract amount is $2,549,304.00 and includes LEO’s salaries, benefits, vehicle cost, supervision, equipment, a Sergeant, and 6 Airport Security Specialists. This cost is consistent with the FY26 Proposed Operating Budget for both PIE (expenditures) and PCSO (revenues). This cost represents a $145,776.00, or 6.07% increase over FY25’s Interlocal Agreement cost of $2,403,528.00.
Funding for this Interlocal Agreement is included in the FY26 Proposed Operating and Capital Budget, funded by the Airport Revenue and Operating Fund, in the amount of $2,644,000.00.
Funding for the FY25 Interlocal Agreement was included in the FY25 Amended Operating and Capital Budget in the amount of $2,403,570.00. The FY26 Proposed Operating and Capital Budget increases funding for the Interlocal Agreement by $240,430.00 or 10.0%.
Staff Member Responsible:
Mark E. Sprague, Interim Director, St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport
Partners:
Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office
Attachments:
Sheriff’s Interlocal Agreement FY26
Sheriff’s Interlocal Agreement FY25