Sacramento County Sheriff requests to extend service for financially-strapped Isleton
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- Board will review extending Sacramento County sheriff services in Isleton to 2029
- Isleton declared $4 million in debt, laid off staff and dissolved police.
- Isleton must pay roughly $400,000 outstanding and owes $600,000 total to county
The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors is reviewing a request to extend law enforcement services in Isleton on Tuesday, as the city is at risk of bankruptcy.
Isleton contracted the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office after its police department dissolved due to unaffordability in 2012. If the resolution is approved, the small River Delta city will continue to use the Sheriff’s Office’s services until 2029 and must pay an outstanding balance of roughly $400,000, said Amar Gandhi, the Sheriff’s spokesperson.
In alignment with Isleton and Sacramento County Sheriff's Office’s agreement, services will be “consistent with those offered in the unincorporated areas of the County,” according to the Board of Supervisors report. Because Isleton is among Sacramento County’s incorporated regions, it is allowed to contract out the Sheriff’s services, Gandhi said.
“We’ve worked with the Isleton community, obviously, for a very long time, and want to continue that,” Gandhi said. “But again, the clear distinction as to where and why is the sheriff’s department charging Isleton versus other communities? Because they are an incorporated city.”
In debt
Isleton, which has a population of less than 1,000, declared itself in $4 million in debt in January. As a result, the city laid off its city staff and fired its entire fire department. Because of its debts, Isleton is on the verge of dissolution and a possible end to cityhood.
In September, Isleton requested an $800,000 loan, which was later rejected by the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors. This was because of financial restraints in the county’s revised 2025-2026 fiscal year budget, supervisors said in September.
In the same meeting, Supervisor Pat Hume promised to assist Isleton’s staff with its “financial future” to avoid residents having to vote on the city’s disincorporation.
Isleton must repay $195,000 to the Employment Development Department for its unpaid taxes, penalties, and interest accrued from June 2017 to September 2013. The city also owes $145,000 to the Small Cities Organized Effort, an organization that assisted it financially.
Continue until 2029
In total, Isleton owes Sacramento County $600,000. Since August 2012, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors has approved police services.
Isleton’s current agreement with Sacramento County Sheriff expired on June 30, 2025, according to a county report. If approved, this new request will continue services until June 30, 2029. Deputies assigned to Isleton would be stationed at 7000 65th St. in Sacramento alongside dispatch services.
The Board of Supervisors will hear this request at 9:30 a.m. in board chambers on 700 H St. Meetings can also be viewed at metro14live.saccounty.gov.
This story was originally published October 7, 2025 at 6:00 AM.
