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Community Development Services, Department of Transportation, recommending the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign a budget transfer reducing the General Fund designation for Road Improvements (designated fund balance) by $686,606 and increasing the operating transfer out to the Department of Transportation by the same amount to allow for a General Fund contribution to the Road Fund for expenses incurred in Fiscal Year 2017-18 to repair roads that were damaged during the 2017 winter storms. (4/5 vote required to approve the budget transfer) (Est. Time: 15 Min.)
FUNDING: General Fund.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
During 2017 the County sustained a large amount of damage to our roads related to the heavy winter storms. The Department of Transportation began many projects in FY 16/17 and FY 17/18 to remove debris and repair the roads. As of October 31, 2018, the total costs of these repairs exceeds thirteen million ($13M) dollars with projected expenses of approximately three million ($3M) more for a total cost of sixteen million ($16M).
The County has received obligation letters from FEMA for several projects, but is still waiting for final determination of project eligibility for four large projects, including the Fort Jim Road Repair, Kyburz Road, Starkes Grade and the County Landfill.
In addition to the projects currently under appeal, there are costs related to all of the emergency projects that are not eligible for reimbursement. These costs are primarily related to overhead and administrative costs. In addition, each project has a 6.25% County share of costs. While some of these costs are be covered by road funds, the County was not anticipating these emergency projects and the expenses related to these projects has depleted the road fund leaving a negative balance which requires reimbursement for some of these expenses from another funding source.
In FY 2017-18, the Board set aside $3.5 million dollars of General Fund for these eme...
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