Title
District Attorney recommending the Board receive and file the Sixteenth Annual Report on Real Estate Fraud for Fiscal Year 2020-21.
FUNDING: N/A
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
In accordance with Government Code Section 27388(d), the Board of Supervisors is required to annually review the effectiveness of the District Attorney in deterring, investigating and prosecuting Real Estate Fraud crime based upon information provided by the District Attorney in an annual report. The report is attached.
To briefly summarize, during FY 2020-21, the number of Real Estate Fraud cases reported to the District Attorney’s Office was lower than in years past. The department assumes this may be due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, causing a decrease in reporting and potential vacation rental scams.
The District Attorney will continue to pursue new avenues to increase outreach efforts and education opportunities to promote the awareness of rental scams and fraud warning signs for homeowners experiencing financial distress.
ALTERNATIVES
N/A
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
August 4, 2020; Legistar File 20-0931: District Attorney recommending the Board Receive and file the Fifteenth Annual Report on Real Estate Fraud for Fiscal Year 2019-2020.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Real Estate Fraud Committee
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with receiving and filing the annual report. The Real Estate Fraud Prosecution Trust fund beginning balance as of July 1, 2020 was $430,719.17. The FY 2020-21 revenue received, including interest, totals $103,543.21, leaving an unadjusted ending balance as of June 30, 2021 in the amount of $534,262.38. The total FY 2020-21 investigation and prosecution expenditures for the Real Estate Fraud Program are estimated at $38,264.00. The FY 2020-21 estimated ending fund balance is $495,998.38. There is no Net County Cost for this program.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS...
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