October 2009 Suffolk County Government Effectively Eliminated ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… Sheriff’s functions transferred to state but cost to Boston will stay the same The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department, the County government has historically been last active component of Suffolk County weaker in Massachusetts than in other states. government, will be transferred to state Of the 14 counties in Massachusetts, 7 were control as of January 2010 as a result of a new abolished from 1997 to 2000 and their law signed by the Governor in August 2009. functions, including sheriffs’ departments, This act (Ch. 61, Acts of 2009) transfers the were transferred to state control. In addition, sheriffs’ departments in the counties of Suffolk County retained its Sheriff’s Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes, Nantucket, Department but its other functions were Norfolk, Plymouth and Suffolk to the transferred to the state. Commonwealth. Chapter 61 transfers the seven remaining The employees in these seven sheriffs’ county sheriffs’ departments to state control, departments will become state employees and ending the last active operation in Suffolk will join the state Group Insurance County government. The sheriffs of these Commission (GIC). Even with this transfer, counties supported the transfer since state the City of Boston’s budget responsibility for control would provide more stable funding Suffolk County will remain the same as in than available to counties, which rely on FY09 but will not increase. volatile deeds excise receipts for a share of their support. Prior to the transfer, Boston paid a maintenance-of-effort charge as determined The Registry of Deeds and other limited by the state budget process. In FY09, the City services will continue to be provided by the appropriated $4.3M or 4% of the Suffolk six remaining counties. Of the seven original County Sheriff’s budget. Under the new law, counties abolished, a few have formed the City will be assessed annually not more voluntary regional services. The former than $4.3M to pay down the unfunded Franklin and Hampshire counties have pension liability of the retirees of the Suffolk formed Regional Councils of Government County Sheriff’s Department who remain in that provide services like cooperative the State-Boston Retirement System (SBRS). purchasing, emergency preparedness and All active employees will be moved to the other regional services. Several communities State Retirement System which will have a in what was Essex County have instituted a long-term benefit for Boston and the SBRS. regional police dispatch system. Boston Municipal Research Bureau www.bmrb.org .