Okaloosa County BOCC — October 16, 2012 — Equitable sharing - attorney opinion — reading text

U.S. Department of Justice xshington, D.C. 20530 t-~~1~7 ~C ~ xjQ~ Mr. Doug Gaylord Chief Financial Officer Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office 1250 North Eglin Parkway Shalimar, FL 32579 Dear Mr. Gaylord: This letter is in response to your email dated August 27, 2012, to the Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section(AFMLS)by the Olcaloosa County Sheriff's Office(OCSO)to make approximately $60,000 in improvements to its facility in Crestview, Florida with equitably shared funds. The building is owned by the state of Florida, and is currently in year 30 of a 100 year lease to OCSO for law enforcement use. The email also states that OCSO would like to purchase a boat for river rescue operations. The approximate cost ofthe boat is $6,800. The policies governing the use of equitably shared funds are outlined in the Guide to Equitable Sharingfor State and Local Law EnfoNCement Agencies(Apri12009)(Guide). In addition to the limitations and conditions outlined within the Guide, all goods and services acquired with federal sharing funds must be in accordance with OCSO's procurement requirements, with any title held accordingly. All federal sharing funds must be used prudently, which means in an ordinary, necessary, and reasonable manner consistent with the principle that public costs should be controlled or reduced wherever possible. The Guide, Section VIII.A.I.c, permits agencies to use equitably shared funds to expand or improve law enforcement facilities used or managed by OCSO. Because there are 70 years remaining on the current lease, the use of approximately $60,000 to improve the Crestview, FL law enforcement facility is a permissible use of equitably shared funds within a reasonable range of the estimated cost. Additionally, Section VIII.A.l.d permits agencies to purchase equipment used by law enforcement personnel for law enforcement purposes. Accordingly, the purchase of a boat is also a permissible use of equitably shared funds. If you have any questions, please email AFMLS Training Technician Anne Insley at afmis.aca@usdoj.gov. Sincerely, ...~-- <_. Ge e Patton, Assistant Deputy Chief set Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section