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Sheriff's Office recommending the Board approve and authorize the Auditor to process payment in the amount of $180,300 to the Department of Justice to reimburse the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program for disallowed grant funds received from Fiscal Year 2005/06 through Fiscal Year 2012/13. It was discovered by the Sheriff's Office Fiscal Division that past State Criminal Alien Assistance Program claims included benefit costs, which is not allowable. Funding received by El Dorado County from claims that included benefit costs must be reimbursed back to the Department of Justice.
FUNDING: General Fund.
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DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION
The Sheriff's Office recommends approval to correct an accounting error on State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) application submittals, and refund the excess funds received from claiming benefit costs. Failure to do so, may jeopardize future grant opportunities with the Department of Justice (DOJ) for El Dorado County.
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
SCAAP provides federal payments to states and localities that incurred correctional officer salary costs for incarcerating undocumented criminal aliens with at least one felony or two misdemeanor convictions for violations of state or local law, and incarcerated for at least 4 consecutive days during the reporting period.
Due to a misunderstanding of eligible costs, the Sheriff's Office staff had, since 2005, included benefit costs in their salary calculations. Therefore, SCAAP awards received were overstated in multiple years. Once this error was discovered, Sheriff's Office fiscal staff worked with the DOJ to calculate the disallowed amounts owed. The Sheriff's Office is requesting Board approval to return the excess funds received for benefit costs claimed to the DOJ.
ALTERNATIVES
If the Board chooses not to refund the overpayment of funds, El Dorado County may not be eligible for future grant funding.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
Auditor's Office for processing of refund payment
CAO RECOMMENDATION
CAO Staff recommends reimbursement to Department of Justice.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Total of $180,300.62 is available in the Sheriff's FY 2014/15 operating budget.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Public Safety
CONTACT
Undersheriff Randy Peshon