DEPARTMENT: San Antonio Police Department
DEPARTMENT HEAD: William P. McManus, Chief of Police
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City-wide
SUBJECT: Arrestee Property
SUMMARY:
On January 25, 2021, Councilmember Cabello Havrda initiated a Council Consideration Request to assess the feasibility, budget impact, and revenue loss associated with the elimination of the property storage fee for the return of personal property of those arrested and/or detained.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In 2009, as part of the FY 2010 Annual Budget Process, the City Council approved the implementation of a $25 property storage fee to allow the City to partially recover the cost associated with retrieval of an arrested person’s personal property. Prior to 2018, the arrested person was allowed to keep all property that would fit in an 8½ x 11” envelope when taken to Jail, and other property would be stored at the City’s Property Room. In December of 2018, Bexar County updated their property intake policy which only allows an arrested individual to bring one credit card, one form of identification, a cell phone, keys and up to $1,000 in cash with them to the Jail. Property not allowed in the Jail include items such as jewelry, wallets and handbags which are stored at the City’s Property Room. As a result of this change SAPD has seen an increase in impound personal property.
There are some exemptions allowed under the current SAPD Policy including:
• Homeless/Indigent Individuals are exempt from the fee
• Food Stamps (Lone Star Cards) can be retrieved without having to pay the fee
• Keys to an impounded vehicle can be retrieved without having to pay the fee
• Medication can be retrieved without having to pay the fee
The cost of operating the property room exceeds the revenue generated by the storage fee. The annual operating cost is approximately $1.1 million and includes the building operating cost and personnel. The table below provides for the number of personal items impounded and the total revenue collected for storage fees:
|
Fiscal Year |
Total Personal Items Impounded |
Total Revenue Collected for Storage Fees |
|
FY 2017 |
11,678 |
$43,275.00 |
|
FY 2018 |
13,562 |
$52,275.00 |
|
FY 2019* |
30,847 |
$198,531.00 |
|
FY 2020 |
30,117 |
$188,140.00 |
*Note: Increase in revenues is attributed to additional items stored at the City’s Property Room resulting from change in the Bexar County property intake policy.
ISSUE:
This CCR is intended to serve as the conduit to the assessment of the property storage fee removal. The elimination of the property repossession fee may enable an arrested person the ability to more quickly reconcile the alleged violation. Further, the elimination of the fee may allow arrested persons to resume daily life in a more expedient manner enabling them to serve as productive members of the community, remove the hardship the fee may place on them, and assure the security and safety of the broader community.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The revenue generated by the Property Room Storage fee is approximately $200,000 annually. Elimination of the fee would result in loss of revenue to the General fund and reductions would need to be made to accommodate a potential revenue reduction.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the potential elimination of the $25 property room storage fee is discussed with the full City Council as part of the Budget Goal Setting Session on June 25th.