By Cris Alarcon, InEDC Writer. (April 7, 2025) — EL DORADO HILLS, Calif. — The movement to incorporate El Dorado Hills into an official city is gaining momentum, with proponents emphasizing the benefits of local control and improved public services. The El Dorado Hills Community Services District (EDHCSD) recently advanced the cityhood process by partnering with the El Dorado Hills Citizens for Cityhood group to initiate the application with the El Dorado Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO).
Understanding Cityhood
Incorporation would transition El Dorado Hills from an unincorporated area governed by the county to a self-governed city. This change aims to provide residents with direct control over local decisions through an elected city council composed solely of community members. Proponents argue that this shift would allow for more responsive governance tailored to the specific needs of El Dorado Hills.
Potential Benefits
Advocates for cityhood highlight several advantages:
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Local Control: Decisions on zoning, planning, and permitting would be made by a city council elected by El Dorado Hills residents, ensuring that development aligns with community priorities.
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Financial Management: A preliminary Comprehensive Fiscal Analysis (CFA) indicated that incorporation is financially feasible without necessitating new taxes. The study projects adequate positive cash flows and reserves to maintain or enhance current service levels.
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Enhanced Public Safety: Establishing a dedicated police force could lead to improved law enforcement coverage and response times, addressing specific local concerns more effectively.
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Infrastructure and Services: Increased revenues from local sales and hotel taxes would remain within the community, potentially funding improvements to roads, parks, and recreational facilities.
Addressing Concerns
While the prospect of cityhood presents several opportunities, some residents have expressed reservations:
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Financial Viability: There is skepticism about maintaining city operations without introducing new taxes. Proponents assert that the CFA supports financial sustainability, and any tax increases would require voter approval. Folsom Times
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Government Structure: Concerns about adding another layer of government are met with explanations that incorporation would streamline services by consolidating responsibilities currently managed by both the county and the EDHCSD.
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Growth and Development: Some fear that cityhood could accelerate growth. Advocates counter that local control would allow residents to manage development more effectively, ensuring it aligns with community preferences.
Next Steps
The EDHCSD has scheduled a special board meeting on April 3, 2025, to formally begin the cityhood exploration process with LAFCO. This meeting will include presentations from the cityhood proponent group and LAFCO representatives. Residents are encouraged to participate and stay informed as the process unfolds.
As El Dorado Hills considers this significant transition, community engagement and thorough analysis will be crucial in determining the future governance structure that best serves its residents.
Is there an Economy of Scale in providing Law Enforcement for a city like Folsom as compared with the County of El Dorado Sheriff policing the proposed city of El Dorado Hills?
Yes, economies of scale do exist in law enforcement—but their effects can vary significantly depending on the size, structure, and governance of the jurisdiction. Here’s how this concept plays out when comparing Folsom’s city police to the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office policing a proposed incorporated El Dorado Hills:
???? What Is “Economy of Scale” in Law Enforcement?
Economy of scale refers to the cost advantages that arise with increased scale of operation. In law enforcement, this can mean lower per-capita costs for equipment, training, dispatch, and administration when services are centralized.
????️ Folsom: A Case of Localized Efficiency
The City of Folsom operates its own municipal police department, giving it direct control over staffing levels, community policing, patrol routes, and budgeting. Benefits of this model include:
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More tailored services based on local needs.
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Faster response times, as patrols are stationed locally.
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Direct accountability to city government and residents.
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Strategic community engagement programs specific to Folsom’s demographics.
Folsom’s city size—about 85,000 residents—supports a fully staffed and well-resourced department. Their scale allows some cost-sharing in administration and technology while maintaining local responsiveness.
????️ El Dorado County Sheriff: Broader but Less Focused
The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office is responsible for covering vast, diverse territories—from rural towns like Georgetown to suburban areas like El Dorado Hills. In this model:
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Resources are spread across the county, limiting the ability to dedicate deputies to any one community.
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Response times in EDH may be slower, especially when deputies are called away for countywide emergencies.
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Prioritization of law enforcement efforts may favor county-wide policies, not EDH-specific needs.
While the county may benefit from some economy of scale by consolidating training, dispatch, and procurement, these are offset by inefficiencies caused by travel distances, varied population densities, and less local accountability.
???? Would a City of El Dorado Hills Benefit from its Own Police Force?
Yes—if sized and staffed appropriately. A dedicated El Dorado Hills police department could:
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Eliminate duplication of some administrative layers.
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Tailor enforcement policies to local concerns like traffic, school safety, and fire evacuation routes.
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Build a resident-focused public safety culture, like Folsom has done.
However, the initial setup costs—such as facilities, vehicles, and hiring—must be weighed carefully. Long-term, the community could benefit from better service levels at equal or possibly lower per-capita cost, depending on scale and funding structures.
???? Expert Input
A 2022 study by the California Legislative Analyst’s Office notes that local control “often leads to greater satisfaction in public safety delivery, even at modestly higher cost, because services are more responsive to community priorities.”
According to the preliminary incorporation analysis by EDH Citizens for Cityhood, early indicators suggest that a dedicated police force is financially viable without new taxes, funded by reallocating existing revenues.
✅ Bottom Line
While county law enforcement enjoys certain administrative economies of scale, these are not always passed on in service quality. For El Dorado Hills, incorporation and localized law enforcement may offer a better blend of efficiency, control, and community safety—more akin to the Folsom model.
