Governor Deval Patrick today signed legislation to streamline the Massachusetts County Sheriff system by transferring the seven remaining independent county sheriff departments under state jurisdiction. Once the transition is complete, the Governor's office says it expects the Commonwealth to save up to $10 million annually.

 The seven county sheriffs affected by this change include Plymouth Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes, Nantucket, Norfolk, and Suffolk, all of which are currently funded under a system that includes multiple funding sources. The most volatile funding source is the deeds excise tax, which has dramatically declined as the housing market has suffered during the nationwide recession. 

 The Governor's office says transferring the sheriffs' 3,000 employees into the state's healthcare program, run by the Group Insurance Commission, will generate the bulk of the savings. The employees will also be transferred into the state pension system.

 The transition will take effect January 1, 2010.

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