Title
Chief Administrative Office recommending the Board:
1) Terminate Agreement 5744 with the El Dorado Resource Conservation District and Agreement 5745 with the Georgetown Resource Conservation District effective June 30, 2024;
2) Approve and authorize the Chair to execute retroactive Agreement 9241 with the El Dorado Resource Conservation District for the period of July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2026 in the amount of $248,508 for Fiscal Year 2024-25, with compensation increasing in the second year of the Agreement based on the growth in the assessed value of land within the District boundary; and
3) Approve and authorize the Chair to execute retroactive Agreement 9242 with the Georgetown Divide Resource Conservation District for the period of July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2026 in the amount of $248,508 for Fiscal Year 2024-25, with compensation increasing in the second year of the Agreement based on the growth in the assessed value of land within the District boundary
FUNDING: General Fund.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
Before Proposition 13 amended the California Constitution to change the way local property taxes are assessed and allocated, state legislation through Division 9 of the Public Resources Code gave RCDs the option of levying an ad valorem tax to support the RCD programs. This assessment was limited to two cents ($.02) on each hundred dollars ($100) of assessed valuation of land within the RCD's boundaries. During the 1960's the RCDs and the Board of Supervisors entered into agreements to provide funding to the RCDs through an annual county allocation instead of a share of ad valorem property tax.
Agreements 5744 and 5745 provide for contributions to the El Dorado County Resource Conservation District and the Georgetown Divide Resource Conservation District (RCDs) for Fiscal Years (FY) 2021-22 through FY 2025-26. The funding for these was set at $104,060.28 per district or $208,120.56 for both Districts, which increased each year of the agreements based on the County’s General Fund change in assessed value. The amount that would be due for FY 2024-25 under the current agreements is $123,434 per district, for a total of $246,868. On August 27, 2024, the Board directed the Chief Administrative Office to negotiate amendments to the current agreements with the RCDs to reflect their increased scope of services as presented by the Districts at the Board meeting and to increase the base funding to an amount equivalent to 0.0015% of the assessed value of land within the district. This will provide funding of $248,508 per District, an increase of $125,074 per district and a total increase of $250,148 for both districts. The enhanced scope in the new proposed agreements reflects work the RCDs have been doing since at least July 1, 2024. These agreements would replace the old agreements effective July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2026.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose to leave the current agreements in place through the remaining term ending June 30, 2026.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
Legistar file 21-1048 - June 29, 2021 - The Board approved agreements 5744 and 5745
Legistar file 24-1499 - August 27, 2024 - The Board directed staff to negotiate amendments to the agreements with the RCD to increase the compensation and scope of services
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The increased Funding of $250,148 for FY 2024-25 was approved with the Adopted Budget by reducing the County's Designation for Capital Projects.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Obtain the Chair's signature on both agreements and provide copies to the Chief Administrative Office.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
N/A
CONTACT
Sue Hennike, Assistant Chief Administrative Officer