THE PROPOSED PROJECT WOULD BE TO PURCHASE ADDITIONAL PATROL VEHICLES FOR THE KINGS COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE. IN RECENT YEARS, COVID-19 HAS IMPACTED THE LENGTH OF TIME IT TAKES TO ACQUIRE A PATROL VEHICLE AND THE COST HAS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY. KINGS COUNTY IS A SMALL RURAL COUNTY WITH A LIMITED GENERAL FUND BUDGET. ALTHOUGH THE COUNTY IS SMALL, IT IS HOME TO THREE STATE PRISONS AND THE THIRD LARGEST GAMING CASINO IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. PUBLIC SAFETY IS A TOP PRIORITY OF THE KINGS COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, BUT THE LIMITED GENERAL FUNDS FOR THE ANNUAL BUDGET RESTRICT THE AMOUNT OF EQUIPMENT AND VEHICLES THAT CAN BE PURCHASED ANNUALLY TO ADEQUATELY PATROL ALL AREAS OF THE COUNTY. PURCHASING ADDITIONAL PATROL VEHICLES WOULD ALLOW THE SHERIFFS OFFICE TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF DEPUTIES ON SHIFT, WHICH WOULD BENEFIT THE OVERALL PUBLIC SAFETY OF THE ENTIRE COUNTY. THE SERVICE AREA FOR THESE VEHICLES WOULD BE ALL AREAS OF KINGS COUNTY AND WOULD BENEFIT THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF KINGS COUNTY (APPROXIMATELY 150,000 RESIDENTS). ADDITIONAL PATROL WOULD ALSO ALLOW THE SHERIFFS OFFICE TO OPERATE IN A MORE EFFICIENT MANNER WHEN IT COMES TO MAINTENANCE OF VEHICLES. THE OVERALL GOAL OF THE PROJECT WOULD BE TO INCREASE PUBLIC SAFETY THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COUNTY.