Title
Chief Administrative Office, Wildfire Preparedness and Resilience Office, recommending the Board consider the following:
1) Direct that all funding received from the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act (also known as Title III funds) for Fiscal Year 2021-22 be directed to the El Dorado County Fire Safe Council for the purpose of funding fire prevention and planning projects; and
2) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign a budget transfer increasing revenues and appropriations in Department 13 to make the payment to the Fire Safe Council.
FUNDING: Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act (also known as Title III funds).
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act of 2000 was first enacted by Congress to stabilize funding to counties for road maintenance and public schools in recognition of the decline of revenues from timber sales on federal lands. The funds may be used for the following purposes:
1. To carry out activities under the Firewise Communities program;
2. To reimburse the participating county for search and rescue and other emergency services, including firefighting and law enforcement patrols;
3. To cover training costs and equipment purchases directly related to the emergency service described above;
4. To develop and carry out community wildfire protection plans.
5. To provide or expand access to broadband telecommunications services.
Funding is reauthorized by Congress for additional years through various legislation. Most recently, Congress extended funding until 2023 under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public Law 117-58). The Fiscal Year 2021-22 allocation received by the County is $120,641.
On July 15, 2014, the Board directed that funding received under Title III be split evenly between the Sheriff's Office, for search and rescue, and the Fire Safe Council (13-1542v2). The direction was based upon a mutual agreement between the Sheriff and the Fire Safe Council. When it appeared there would be a gap in Title III funding in FY 2021-22 because the legislation had not been reauthorized by Congress, the Board of Supervisors provided $265,000 in Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) funding to the Sheriff to fund Search and Rescue, mitigating the effects of tourism. That TOT allocation was also approved by the Board for FY 2022-23, along with an additional $400,000 for the first year's operating costs of the Sheriff's helicopter program.
Because the amount previously provided to the Sheriff from Title III has been replaced in this fiscal year by the TOT allocation, and the Fire Safe Council has depleted its available funding for its Senior/Veteran/Disabled residential chipping program, the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) is recommending that the Board depart from the previous direction to evenly split Title III funds for the Fiscal Year 2021-22 allocation and authorize allocation of the full amount to the Fire Safe Council. The Sheriff's Office has no objection to this change for the Fiscal Year 2021-22 allocation.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose to follow its prior direction and split the funding evenly between the Sheriff's Office and the Fire Safe Council or provide new direction.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
07/15/14 - 13-1542v2 - The Board directed funds be split between the Sheriff and the Fire Safe Council
09/01/20 - 20-1100 - The Board approved an agreement to disburse funds to the Fire Safe Council through Fiscal Year 2022-23, and authorized the CAO to execute addenda to the agreement to determine the funding amounts.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Sheriff's Office
El Dorado County Fire Safe Council
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no change to Net County Cost.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Public Safety
CONTACT
Sue Hennike, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer