Title
District Attorney's Office recommending the Board:
1) Receive and file the Law Enforcement Panel’s approval for the District Attorney’s use of 15% Asset Forfeiture Funds to support the following: a $10,000 contribution to the California District Attorneys Association (CDAA) Drug-Prosecution Training Initiative; a $15,000 contribution to Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) for community outreach programs; a $2,000 contribution to the annual community Drug Store Project; $23,000 for multimedia production services promoting fentanyl-use deterrence; and $10,000 for community advertising on the negative impacts of drug use;
2) Find that the proposed uses provide a valuable public benefit by supporting programs designed to combat drug abuse and divert gang activity;
3) Adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 168-2026, approving the above-listed contributions to CDAA, BBBS, and the Drug Store Project; and
4) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign the associated Fiscal Year 2026-2027 budget transfer increasing revenue and appropriations within the District Attorney’s General Fund by $60,000. (4/5 vote required)
FUNDING: District Attorney 15% Asset Forfeiture Fund.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
California Health & Safety Code §11489 mandates that 15% of forfeited assets distributed to the District Attorney’s Office be deposited into a special fund to support programs that provide a public benefit and are designed to combat drug abuse and divert gang activity, which involve educators, parents, community-based organizations, local businesses, and uniformed law enforcement officers. The actual distribution and use of funds is to be determined by a panel consisting of the sheriff of the county, a police chief selected by the other chiefs in the county, and the district attorney and the chief probation officer of the county.
On Monday September 28, 2026, the El Dorado County Sheriff, the Probation Chief, and the South Lake Tahoe Police Chief each approved the recommended use of funds, as proposed by the District Attorney. To summarize, the following disbursement was approved:
- $23,000 allocated towards Public Outreach / Multi-Media Production regarding Fentanyl.
- $10,000 allocated towards California District Attorneys Association (CDAA) training support related to drug-prosecution.
- $15,000 allocated towards Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) youth mentorship program targeting drug prevention.
- $2,000 allocated towards the Drug Store Project, which is an early intervention/education program addressing youth substance abuse.
- $10,000 allocated towards campaigning and advertising the negative impacts of drug use throughout the county.
Total = $60,000
The District Attorney is requesting Board adoption and execution of the enclosed resolution, authorizing the noted contributions to BBBS, CDAA, and the Tahoe Alliance for Safe Kids (Drug Store Project). A budget transfer has also been included for approval and execution to increase revenue and appropriation within the department’s FY 2026-27 General Fund to support these expenditures.
ALTERNATIVES
Should the Board opt not to approve the enclosed resolution and budget transfer, the District Attorney’s Office will be unable to support community programs combating youth drug use/abuse with the use of dedicated discretionary asset forfeiture funds.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel
Auditor-Controller
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no change to Net County Cost as a result of this item. The enclosed budget transfer increases revenue and appropriations in the District Attorney’s Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget by $60,000 to support the expenses outlined above.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) Obtain the Chair's signature on the Resolution.
2) Return one certified copy of the Resolution to Central Fiscal, Attention: Justene Cline
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
N/A
CONTACT
Vern Pierson, District Attorney