Title
Chief Administrative Office and Sheriff's Office recommending the Board:
1) Direct the Auditor-Controller to allow employees to make voluntary deductions from their paychecks to provide donations to the El Dorado County K-9 Association; and
2) Direct staff to return to the Board with a Voluntary Payroll Deductions to Charitable Organizations Policy.
FUNDING: Voluntary deductions made by participating employees.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Unit is supported by the El Dorado County K-9 Association, a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing public safety through the training, equipment, and veterinary care of law enforcement service dogs. The Association provides critical resources such as specialized training, equipment, and veterinary care that ensure the K-9 Unit remains highly skilled and ready to respond to a wide range of public safety needs. These service dogs assist with suspect apprehension, narcotics, and also serve as community ambassadors during public outreach events.
In addition to supporting active service dogs, the K-9 Association also funds veterinary care and related expenses for retired K-9s after they are no longer in service with the Sheriff’s Office. Because the cost of care for retired canines is no longer covered by the County, the Association plays a vital role in ensuring these animals continue to receive proper medical treatment and quality of life after their years of service.
The Sheriff’s Office has historically worked very closely with the K-9 Association and has benefited significantly from its support in sustaining a strong and effective K-9 program.
To support this program, which provides valuable assistance to the public safety mission of the Sheriff’s Office, the Sheriff’s Office is requesting that the Board direct the Auditor-Controller to take the necessary steps to allow employees to voluntarily contribute to the El Dorado County K-9 Association through payroll deductions. This approach ensures transparency, fiscal responsibility, and provides County employees with an opportunity to directly support initiatives that align with the mission of public service and community safety.
The County has allowed employees to make voluntary deductions to charitable organizations for years but has never had a formal policy guiding the addition and maintenance of deductions to charitable organizations. The Chief Administrative Office is requesting the Board provide direction to draft a policy on Voluntary Payroll Deductions to Charitable Organizations to provide guidance to departments on what type of charitable organizations are eligible, clarifying IRS rules regarding charitable donations through payroll, the process for requesting the addition of a charitable organization, and the process for starting and stopping donations to charitable organizations through a payroll deduction.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could decline to approve payroll deduction donations for the El Dorado County K-9 Association.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Auditor-Controller - Payroll Division
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no financial impact to the County as the donations are voluntary and would be deducted from employees’ paychecks. Administrative costs, if any, for establishing and maintaining the deductions would be minimal and absorbed within existing resources.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
N/A
CONTACT
Undersheriff Bryan Golmitz
Sue Hennike, Interim Chief Administrative Officer