Title
Chief Administrative Office recommending the Board reaffirm its prior direction on the use of funding from the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act (also known as Title III funds).
FUNDING: Federal Funding.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act of 2000 (Act), 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 Act has been most recently reauthorized by Public Law 115-141. 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.
On July 15, 2014, the Board directed that all current and future Title III funds be evenly split between the Sheriff, primarily for Search and Rescue (SAR) and the El Dorado County Fire Safe Council for development of community wildfire protection plans. The last contract with the Fire Safe Council expired June 30, 2017 and the Act was not reauthorized Congress in 2017. As a result, no funding was provided to the Sheriff or the Fire Safe Council in FY 2017-18. Congress then reauthorized the Act in 2018 and released funds for 2017, 2018, and 2019. Given the lapse of the Act and the expiration of the agreement with the Fire Safe Council, staff is asking that the Board confirm its prior direction before work is initiated on a new agreement with the Fire Safe Council.
The total amount available in FY 2018-19 after the release of funds was $312,937. Based on the 2014 direction, this would provide $156,469 each for the Sheriff and the Fire Safe Council. The Sheriff has already received $65,570 of this amount in FY 2018-19, leaving a balance of $247,368 as of June 30, 2019. Of this amount, $90,899 would remain for the Sheriff. The FY 2019-20 Budget already includes $68,000 for the Sheriff, leaving a total unbudgeted amount of $22,899 for the Sheriff.
If the Board chooses to continue under the 2014 direction, staff would work with the Fire Safe Council to draft a contract for its share ($156,469) and return to the Board for approval of the contract. The remaining, unbudgeted amount for the Sheriff would be added to the amount already included in the FY 2019-20 budget for a total of $90,899, reducing the general fund cost in the Sheriff's Office by $22,899.
Future revenues would be evenly split between the Sheriff's Office and the Fire Safe Council.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose to reallocate the funding among any of the authorized uses.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
7/15/2014 Legistar 13-1542 - the Board directed that all current and future Title III funds be evenly split between SAR and the Fire Safe Council.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
N/A
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The budgeted general fund cost in the Sheriff's Office would be reduced by $22,899.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
N/A
CONTACT
Sue Hennike, Deputy CAO