Pierce County Sheriff’s deputies will continue policing University Place through at least 2017 under an agreement unanimously approved by the City Council this week.

It’s a five-year extension to a pact that had been set to expire in 2012.

The city will spend around $4 million this year on its contract and tentatively has budgeted $4.3 million for 2010. But that’s under review as city officials scrutinize expenses and look for ways to fill a $4 million budget gap, Finance Director David Layden said.

The UP police force currently consists of 22 sworn officers, including two sergeants and Police Chief Jim Andrews. There’s also an administrative assistant.

The staffing level puts three deputies on the streets every shift, City Manager Bob Jean said. Pierce County backfills with officers from other districts when University Place deputies are sick or on vacation.

But those numbers could change in what Jean expects to be a brutal round of budget cuts. He said Monday night that the city could be forced to lay off 20 employees next year.

When the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office offered to extend its agreement with University Place and put a cap on annual increases, city officials acted quickly, Jean said.

The agreement calls for a minimum annual increase of 3 percent and a maximum of 6 percent. A fully outfitted deputy, including salary, benefits, clothing, car, computer, radios and overhead charges, costs the city $141,000 this year.

In unprecedented economic times, “any cost variables that can be controlled and accurately predicted is in the city’s best interest,” Jean wrote in a report to the council.

Pierce County Sheriff Paul Pastor called the agreement with University Place “a model” that’s been replicated elsewhere and said the long partnership has been good for both sides.

The sheriff’s office also provides police service for the City of Edgewood. Kris Sherman: 253-597-8659

kris.sherman@thenewstribune.com