Cupertino officials have reluctantly agreed to sign a new contract with the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office amid a long fight against a significant rate increase.
The five-year contract for law enforcement services, unanimously approved by the City Council on Tuesday, starts Oct. 1 and is retroactive to July 1. Cupertino’s annual fee of $19 million jumps by roughly 34%, or $6.4 million, to $25.4 million — a much bigger increase than previous years and more than the city had anticipated.
The county put pressure on the city to accept the agreement, including a strongly worded letter from Sheriff Bob Jonsen…