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Grant Application - North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program - Union County Sheriff’s Office Toxicology Lab Expansion
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INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dorothy Thomas, Sheriff’s Office, Public Safety Finance Administrator, 704-283-3578
ACTION REQUESTED:
Authorize the County Manager to submit the associated grant application and make necessary assurances and certifications associated with the grant application as substantially consistent with this agenda item.
PRIOR BOARD ACTIONS:
None.
BACKGROUND:
The Union County Sheriff’s Office is eligible to receive a grant from the North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program. Union County Sheriff’s Office will receive funding for two (2) positions for the Union County Sheriff’s Office Crime Lab (Crime Lab). There is no match for the grant.
With the Crime Lab’s expansion of toxicology services to law enforcement agencies in surrounding counties, there will be an increase for blood alcohol and blood drug kits in connection with Driving While Impaired (DWI) detection. This expansion will allow law enforcement agencies in neighboring jurisdictions to send blood alcohol and blood drug kits to the Crime Lab for testing. The Governor’s Highway Safety Program’s grant would provide funding for the addition of one (1) Lead Forensic Chemist, UC Pay Grade O, and one (1) Forensic Chemist I, Pay Grade M. The additional FTEs will create opportunities to not only increase the current caseloads but, also, decrease processing times associated with the processing of these kits. By alleviating any existing blood toxicology backlogs and reducing the amount of time between submission and processing, the judicial system will be in a position to move the related cases thro ugh the court process in a timely manner, eliminating speedy trial issues and the dismissals that can result from the types of delays that are experienced when relying on the NC State Crime Lab. The opportunity for an expedited process will lead to anticipated increases in conviction rates, as well as reducing the number of impaired drivers who accumulate multiple offenses while awaiting trial on the initial case. The goal for the Crime Lab, and the Union County Sheriff’s Office is to hold drivers accountable for driving while impaired and reduce the possibility of recidivism and alcohol related fatalities and injuries. Union County will benefit from the expansion of these services to surrounding areas by limiting the chances that a dangerous driver will cross into our jurisdiction and creating safe roads often traveled by Union County’s residents.
The GHSP grant is a one-year grant and would cover 100% of costs associated with the addition of the positions, to include all activities that are directly related to the furtherance of highway safety. As such, these two (2) positions will be fully dedicated to blood toxicology processing associated with DWI detection. There is, however, an opportunity for two (2) one-year continuation grants. Year two could provide approximately 85% of funding associated with the positions, while year three would see a slight reduction to approximately 70% funding.
Requested Personnel:
(1) Forensic Chemist I (PG M) - approximate salary: $94,154.29 + benefits
(1) Lead Forensic Chemist (PG O) - approximate salary: $107,293.52 + benefits
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
None. This is a reimbursement grant. Expenditures will be paid in arrears on a quarterly basis.
The cost associated with the initial grant period is approximately $288,900 with 100% reimbursement by the Governor’s Highway Safety Program. This includes salary and benefits calculated at FY2026 rates, as well as minimal operational costs (equipment and training) in the amount of $15,000 per position for a total of $30,000. There are no vehicles associated with the request.