Title
Chief Administrative Office recommending the Board:
1) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign a Fiscal Year 2025-26 budget transfer due to funding received from a settlement related to the Mosquito Fire, increasing revenue by $8,834,150, increasing appropriations by $304,501 for a required payment to the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, and designating the remaining $8,529,649 to the General Fund Disaster Designation (4/5 vote required); and
2) Direct staff to return to the Board on April 28, 2026, to receive direction from the Board on how this funding should be appropriated in the Fiscal Year 2026-27 Budget.
FUNDING: Settlement funding.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
In February, the County received a check resulting from a settlement with Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) 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.
Staff are recommending the Board approve a budget transfer to recognize the $8,834,150 in funding, $304,501 for a required payment to CalOES, and designate the remaining $8,529,649 to the Disaster Designation. Staff will return to the Board on April 28, 2026, during the Fiscal Year 2026-27 Budget agenda item to receive direction from the Board on how the designated funding should be appropriated in the Fiscal Year 2026-27 Recommended Budget. Staff will ensure the Director of Transportation will be present for that item to discuss options for allocating the funding to transportation-related projects.
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.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
N/A
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The budget transfer increases the General Fund Budget by $8,834,150, 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, Acting Deputy Chief Administrative Officer