The cost of the contract between the Town of Fountain Hills and the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office will decrease substantially in the upcoming fiscal year while not seeing any reduction in service or staff, according to a release from the town.

The town was notified recently that the contract cost with MCSO, which provides law enforcement services to the town, will decrease by $373,000 in Fiscal Year 2026 from the current year’s amount, providing significant cost savings to the town. The reduction allows the town to reallocate the money elsewhere to address other vital Town needs.

“I am pleased to announce that the MCSO contract for Fountain Hills residents will go down roughly 6%,” said Mayor Gerry M. Friedel. “A short time after being sworn in, Sheriff Jerry Sheridan and I met. I expressed the concerns I had with the contract and to say he listened would be an understatement.

“This is a win for our entire community. I’m thankful to him and the men and women of MCSO who work tirelessly to keep our community among the very safest in the state. My law enforcement committee will be meeting soon so stay tuned for more exciting developments.”

The new cost amount is in effect with the new fiscal year beginning July 1. There are no reductions in staff or service in the contract. The savings are administrative in nature, with much of it coming from decreased MCSO employee benefit costs.

“Fountain Hills is a tremendous community, and MCSO is a huge part of making that happen,” said Town Manager Rachael Goodwin. “We look forward to another great year with them as not only our law enforcement partner, but an integral part of the community at large.

“As always, the town is appreciative for the entire MCSO staff who serve our community around the clock and put their own safety at risk to ensure the wellbeing of our residents and visitors.”