The Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) is offering state funds through the School Resource Officer and School Security Officer Incentive Grant Program to establish new School Resource Officer (SRO) positions in local law enforcement agencies and new School Security Officer (SSO) positions in local school divisions. The grant program is focused on funding SRO/SSO positions where none currently exist within a high, middle, or elementary school. A Sheriff’s Office or School Division may manage the SRO/SSO program but the grant application must be submitted by and the funds awarded to a unit of local government.
The grant does require a minimum local cash match as identified in the 2018-2020 Composite Index of Local Ability-to-Pay. Spotsylvania County’s rate is 36.27%. Grant funds can only be used to pay for salary and benefits for SRO/SSO positions. The total amount requested for a new SRO position may not exceed $50,000 per SRO position including the required local cash match. Any costs associated with the implementation of the SRO/SSO program above the grant award must be borne by the County, Sheriff’s Office, and/or the Schools. The SRO/SSO position must be assigned to one secondary or elementary school and cannot rotate to other schools. Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis for one year beginning July 1, 2018 and ending June 30, 2019. Successful SRO/SSO programs can request annual continuation funding in ensuing years for a maximum of four years of grant funding. Approval of one grant does not guarantee funding awards in subsequent years. Positions approved for continuation funding will be based on the Composite Index of Local Ability-to-Pay. Grant funds cannot be used to supplant local funds.
The Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office would like to request four new SRO positions for four County schools that do not currently have a dedicated SRO. The identification of the selected schools most in need of a SRO was made in consultation with the School Superintendent, the Director of School Safety, and the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office.
If approved, the Sheriff’s Office would request $127,460 in grant funds for the first year. The required local funding needed for the remaining personnel costs would be $134,023; however, it is estimated that an additional $57,234 of local funding will be needed to cover the additional costs associated with mandatory DCJS SRO training, and operating costs for the requested positions. Additionally, the Sheriff’s Office requires one new vehicle for every three new SROs at an estimated cost of $35,000. The remaining SROs would utilize surplus vehicles.
Therefore the total local portion for the four SROs is estimated to be $226,257. If the grant applications are awarded for FY 2019, the Sheriff’s Office proposes to utilize funding from their asset forfeiture or surplus funds to purchase some of the operating supplies.
The anticipated cost and funding sources for the four SRO positions for the first year are as follows:
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First Year Costs
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Grant Funding
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Local Funding
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Total Costs
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Personnel
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$127,460 - From the DCJS SRO Grant Opportunity if awarded
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$134,023
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$261,483
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Operating Costs
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$57,234
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$57,234
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Vehicle
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$35,000 for one new vehicle. Surplus vehicles will be used for the remaining three SRO positions.
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$35,000
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Total
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$127,460
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$226,257
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$353,717
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After the first year, it is anticipated that recurring annual operating costs for the four positions would be $18,076.
Grant applications are due on May 11, 2018.