The board Tuesday will review an equipment lease agreement and rental payment schedule for the radios, software and miscellaneous equipment. Supervisors approved the intent to lease more than 2,000 APX N70 radios, along with other software and accessories in December.
The APX N70 is a handheld radio used by the Sheriff’s Office staff to communicate across county lines. Police use these radios to reach dispatch services, contact Emergency Medical Services, and seek backup police services without network interruptions, according to Radio Communications of Virginia.
The Sheriff’s Office previous lease dates to 2015 and expired last year. Then, the Sheriff’s Office spent $1.5 million on Motorola radios, according to county documents. If approved, the county’s fiscal officer will enter the lease. It is estimated it will take Sacramento County until 2036 to pay off the $13 million.
How they pay for it
Sacramento County has $9.2 billion at its disposal in the 2025-26 budget, with a general fund of $4 billion, according to the county’s website. Sacramento County’s 2025-26 budget saw an $16 million raise in its general funds after the Board of Supervisors increased it in September.The county’s general fund will cover 53% of the equipment lease cost, while 30% is from other sources, including 17% from the County’s Inmate Welfare Fund, which is collected from the Sacramento Main Jail’s commissary profits and phone call fees.
The rental proposal will span another 10 years with an interest rate of 3.54%. In accordance with Banc of America Public Capital Corp, who is submitted the chosen lease proposal, the equipments’ cost cannot exceed $13,579,990, according to county documents.
“The County determined a 10-year term is consistent with historical operations and will reduce budgetary pressures with the need to replace equipment that has reached the end of its useful life,” the resolution reads.
The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors meets at 700 H St., Suite 1450 at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday to review the resolution. The meeting can also be streamed at metro14live.saccounty.gov.
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