Training Bulletin 1- Single Price Service Units

Single Price Service Units

Rates and Billing Method

Purpose

Effective July 1, 1998, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department implemented a new contract law enforcement pricing system commonly referred to as the “Single Price Service Unit” rate.  This pricing system replaced the old method where the price rate depended on the duties performed.  The Single Price Service Unit simplifies the billing process and allows the Unit Commander and Contract City more flexibility to ensure officer and public safety.

The Department’s Contract Law Enforcement Program began in 1954 with a simple arrangement for payment, wherein cities merely traded their annual fines and forfeitures for general law and traffic services.

In the late 1960's, the Board of Supervisors developed a more comprehensive cost accounting method for recovery of the contract city service charges. However, in the years that followed, the current system of cost accounting was developed, known as the Contract Law Enforcement Cost Model. 

Unfortunately, much of the flexibility in the deployment of services was lost due to the various service categories, variable prices and required billing changes.  For example, general law cars were more expensive than traffic enforcement cars, which were more expensive than special assignment deputies.  This system restricted the station commanders and city staff to redirect law enforcement services without impacting the cost to the concerned city.

The “Single Price Rate and Billing Method” utilizes the “average” cost of a deputy sheriff, no matter the function performed.  This eliminated the financial impact and the need for billing memo changes whenever a deputy sheriff’s functions changed.

The fiscal impact to both the Department and the contract cities is negligible.