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Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) recommending the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign a Fiscal Year (FY) 2021-22 Budget Transfer Request to move $88,500 from the Caldor Fire Relief Designation to the HHSA Administration and Finance Division for costs incurred due to Caldor Fire response and recovery. (4/5 vote required)
FUNDING: General Fund Caldor Fire Relief Designation.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
The Caldor Fire started on August 14, 2021, and quickly swept through El Dorado County and into neighboring counties, consuming nearly 222,000 acres. The fire resulted in the evacuation of many parts of the County, destroying 1,003 Structures and damaging another 81 structures, before being fully contained on October 21, 2021.
On September 21, 2021 (File ID: 21-1503) the Board directed the establishment of Caldor Fire Relief Designation in the amount of $5 million dollars to fund Caldor Fire response and recovery efforts.
The Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) Administration and Finance Division incurred costs associated with Caldor Fire emergency response and recovery efforts that were not budgeted in FY 2021-22. Costs such as staff working for the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) or lodging for mutual aid personnel, were charged to the HHSA Administration and Finance Division and are not recoverable through programmatic funding sources.
Previously, savings had been identified that would have offset the increased costs for Caldor Fire response. Due to Board approved compensation changes, which offset identified savings, HHSA is now requesting a budget transfer in the amount of $88,500, increasing the HHSA Administration and Finance Division Net County Cost Budget for FY 2021-22, funded with the Caldor Fire Relief Designation in order to cover costs directly related to the Caldor fire response and recovery that are not reimbursable by the Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA).
ALTERNATIVES:
Should the Board decline to approve this budget adjustment, the HHSA Administration and Finance Division would be over the Net County Cost budget for FY 2021-22 due to its efforts supporting the Caldor Recovery and Response efforts.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION:
1) 9/21/21, 21-1503, CAO - Board direction to establish the Caldor Fire Relief Designation
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
N/A
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
If approved, $2,864,039 will remain in the Caldor Fire Relief Designation. The Chief Administrative Office will reconcile actual expenses to budgeted expenses at the end of the fiscal year to ensure that any unused funding from the Caldor Fire Relief Designation can be budgeted in future years for Caldor Fire recovery efforts or returned to the designation.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Clerk of the Board to obtain the Chair’s signature on the Budget Transfer Request form and forward to the Chief Administrative Office for processing.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT:
Good Governance
CONTACT
Daniel Del Monte, Interim Director, Health and Human Services Agency