Title
Sheriff’s Office recommending the Board adopt and authorize the Chair to sign Resolution 029-2023 authorizing the Sheriff and Undersheriff to accept individual donations, up to $10,000 each, to the Sheriff’s Office programs to support public purposes.
FUNDING: Donations.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
California law (Gov. Code, 25355) authorizes the Board of Supervisors to "accept or reject any gift, bequest, or devise made to or in favor of the county, or to or in favor of the board in trust for any public purpose." The Board may delegate such authority to county officers or employees, provided that such delegees file quarterly reports with the Board of Supervisors describing the source and value of any gift valued in excess of $10,000 (or other amount chosen by the Board).
Occasionally, private citizens or companies offer donations of cash, goods, and services in support of various programs within the Sheriff’s Office. These donations have included hand sanitizers, utility terrain vehicle and trailer, Jeep Wrangler, exercise equipment, eagle statue, and small cash donations, As there is no countywide policy on acceptance of such donations, only the Board of Supervisors has the authority to accept them, unless that authority has been specifically delegated. In order to provide flexibility and reduce the administrative process to accept donations, the Sheriff’s Office is requesting the Board delegate authority to the Sheriff and Undersheriff to accept individual donations, up to $10,000. Any individual donation in excess of that amount would be brought to the Board of Supervisors for consideration. A report of all donations of $10,000 or less would be provided to the Board at the end of each fiscal year. All donations would be used for public purposes.
ALTERNATIVES
The Board could choose not to delegate authority at all or could delegate authority to accept donations up to a different amount than requested. If no authority is delegated, each donation would have to be accepted by the Board of Supervisors.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
N/A.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
County Counsel reviewed and approved the Resolution.
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Any donations received would defray the costs of provision of services, offsetting the use of funding from special revenues funds and the General Fund. Increased revenue because the convenience of accepting donations makes it more likely that additional donations will be received.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Forward signed resolution to the Sheriff’s Office.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Public Safety.
CONTACT
Undersheriff Bryan Golmitz.