Title
Chief Administrative Office recommending the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign a Fiscal Year 2025-26 budget transfer due to a required repayment of Law Enforcement Mutual Aid funding to the state as a result of a settlement related to the Mosquito Fire, pulling $261,174 in revenue from the Disaster Designation and increasing appropriations by $261,174 for a required payment to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. (4/5 vote required)
FUNDING: Settlement funding.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
In February, the County received a check resulting from a settlement with Pacific Gas and Electric Company for the County service and infrastructure impacts from the 2022 Mosquito Fire. As required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), $304,500.46 of the funding must be paid to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) and FEMA, as it is the CalOES / FEMA share of FEMA eligible costs that are being processed for reimbursement to the County. This leaves $8,529,649.03 remaining for the Board to appropriate in the County Budget. On April 7, 2026, with Legistar file 26-0426, the Board approved a budget transfer to recognize the $8,834,150 in funding, $304,501 for a required payment to the CalOES, and designated the remaining $8,529,649 to the Disaster Designation.
After approval of the initial payment, El Dorado County was notified by CalOES that the County would need to repay an additional amount to the LEMA fund for the disbursement of state funding to cover law enforcement mutual aid response during the Mosquito Fire. CalOES was also able to finalize all the amounts needed to be repaid as a result of El Dorado County’s settlement and the process for repayment. El Dorado County will need to remit to CalOES $218,095.10 to be forwarded to FEMA, $66,154.46 to the California Disaster Assistance Act funding, and $281,425.02 to the LEMA fund. The Board has already approved $304,501 in funding to CalOES, but $261,174 more is needed.
Staff are requesting the Board approve a budget transfer pulling $261,174 of the settlement funding from the Disaster Designation and increasing Contribution to Other Governmental Agency appropriations by $261,174 for the required repayment. This budget transfer will leave $8,268,475 of the settlement funding in the Disaster Designation. On April 28, 2026, with Legistar file 26-0723, the Board directed that the FY 2026-27 Recommended Budget include using $400,000 of this funding for a shared fire services agreement on the Georgetown Divide and designate the remaining $7.86 million for projects that benefit the Mosquito Fire Footprint Area.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose not to approve the budget transfer and provide alternate direction to staff.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
01/24/2023 Legistar file 23-0012 - Approval of Agreement for Legal Services between El Dorado County and Baron & Budd, PC., Dixon Diab & Chambers, LLP, for representation on a contingency fee basis in litigation against PG&E arising from the Mosquito Fire.
04/07/2026 Legistar file 24-0426 - Approval of initial budget transfer for settlement funding.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
N/A
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The budget transfer pulls $261,174 from the General Fund Disaster Designation and increases the General Fund Budget by $261,174, as described above.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Upon Board approval, obtain the Chair's signature on the Budget Transfer and forward it to the Chief Administrative Office for processing.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
N/A
CONTACT
Emma Owens, Chief Budget Officer