Consent-Law & Justice Services # 29.
Board of Supervisors
Probation
- Meeting Date:
- 02/10/2026
- Brief Title
- Authorize Purchase of Vehicle for Work Program
From:
Rachelle Gayton, Chief, Probation Department
Staff Contact:
Rachelle Gayton, Chief, Probation Department, x5358
Supervisorial District Impact:
Countywide
Subject
Authorize the Chief of Probation to purchase a vehicle for the Work Program in FY 2025-26; adopt budget resolution in the amount of $75,000 for FY 2025-26; and approve the amendment to FY 2025-26 Authorized Equipment List. (No general fund impact) (4/5 vote required) (Gayton)
Recommended Action
- Authorize the Chief of Probation to purchase a vehicle for the Work Program unit through General Services Fleet Services;
- Adopt budget resolution amending the Probation Department FY2025-26 Adopted Budget in the amount of $75,000 (Att. A); and
- Approve amendment to the FY2025-26 Authorized Equipment List allowing purchase of the vehicle (Att. B).
Strategic Plan Goal(s)
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Operational Excellence |
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County Mandated Service |
Reason for Recommended Action/Background
Yolo County is required as a mandated service to provide an alternative sentencing program for lower-level offenders to provide work in their community versus being incarcerated. Probation provides this service through its Work Program landscaping program. The Work Program has around a dozen contracts overall, with about half of those being within the County (General Services, Animal Care, Sheriff's Department), as well as many outside cities and entities such as City of Davis, City of Woodland, City of West Sacramento, and the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation. Probation charges these entities an hourly rate for the Probation staff who supervise the work crews and the value of these contracts total just under $500,000 per year. The fees Probation charges their partner agencies and departments provide critical revenue to offset rising costs in the Juvenile Detention Facility and Transport units.
Over the last year, Probation has begun to analyze many of their larger operating expenses and noticed that the amount of funds spent on vehicle maintenance and repairs were significant. In the FY24-25, Probation spent $42,259 for the year, with 52% of those expenditures in the Work Program and Transport units.
Over the last year, Probation has begun to analyze many of their larger operating expenses and noticed that the amount of funds spent on vehicle maintenance and repairs were significant. In the FY24-25, Probation spent $42,259 for the year, with 52% of those expenditures in the Work Program and Transport units.
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The average age of a Work Program/Transport vehicle is 15 years old with two-thirds of the Work Program/Transport vehicles being over 10 years old. While age tends to be a major contributing factor to the wear and subsequent maintenance, the required use of these vehicles also tends toward higher maintenance costs for these vehicles. The vehicles are driven 5-6 days per week, have a capacity to seat 6-8 individuals, and must be equipped to tow trailers with all of the Work Program's landscaping equipment.
Due to the long lead time involved - a year from budget approval to receipt of a vehicle - Probation is requesting to augment our current year's budget to purchase a vehicle as part of FY25-26 budget. If Probation waits to include a new vehicle in the FY26-27 budget and wait for final approval in September, Probation will not have a new vehicle for at least 15 months. Given the costs Probation is incurring, it makes sense to upgrade these vehicles as soon as is possible and offset these high costs of repairs which are not benefiting the Work Program at all.
The requested vehicle is a fixed asset item, therefore, the Probation Department is also requesting Board authority to amend the 2025-26 Authorized Equipment List.
Collaborations (including Board advisory groups and external partner agencies)
All of our partner agencies and departments that we serve through the Work Program unit. County Counsel has approved the attached resolution as to form. Procurement and Fleet Services will assist in the procurement of the fixed asset.
Competitive Bid Process/Vendor Performance
Probation will work with Fleet Services to scope and purchase the vehicle utilizing fleet services contracts.
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal impact (see budgetary detail below)
Fiscal Impact (Expenditure)
- Total cost of recommended action:
- $ 75,000
- Amount budgeted for expenditure:
- $ 75,000
- Additional expenditure authority needed:
- $ 75,000
- One-time commitment:
- Yes
Source of Funds for this Expenditure
- General Fund
- $0
- State
- $60,000
- Other
- $15,000
Further explanation as needed:
The purchase of this vehicle will not utilize any general funds. The vehicle will be funded using two funding sources: SB678 funds and insurance proceeds. SB678 funds are a special revenue fund that are provided to Probation and are allocated based on the rate at which individuals on felony supervision are sent to state prison. Counties that reduce this rate are rewarded with a portion of the state savings that they can reinvest in evidence-based probation practices, which have shown to reduce recidivism. One of those programs is the Work Program unit which allows offenders to work off their sentences, trains them in various skills and saves the County money by not incarcerating these individuals. SB678 funds are utilized each year for the Work Program unit and use of these funds in the amount of $60,000 for vehicle replacement is an appropriate use of this funding. In addition, Probation received $15,000 from an insurance settlement for a vehicle that was irreparably damaged in a car accident where a member of the public hit a Probation vehicle. These funds were returned to the department as the vehicle was purchased with special revenue funds and therefore were due back to the Department. Probation would like to reinvest these funds back into a vehicle for Work Program.
A budget resolution is attached which would augment the Probation budget for FY25-26 to allow for the purchase of a vehicle for Work Program in the amount of $75,000. In addition, a requested amendment to the FY25-26 Equipment List is also attached.
A budget resolution is attached which would augment the Probation budget for FY25-26 to allow for the purchase of a vehicle for Work Program in the amount of $75,000. In addition, a requested amendment to the FY25-26 Equipment List is also attached.
Attachments
Form Review
| Inbox | Reviewed By | Date |
|---|---|---|
| AnnMarie Boylan (Originator) | AnnMarie Boylan | 01/23/2026 12:04 PM |
| Rachelle Gayton | Rachelle Gayton | 01/23/2026 03:10 PM |
| Financial Services | KauXue Thao | 01/23/2026 04:00 PM |
| AnnMarie Boylan (Originator) | AnnMarie Boylan | 01/23/2026 04:23 PM |
| Rachelle Gayton | Rachelle Gayton | 01/23/2026 04:59 PM |
| Financial Services | KauXue Thao | 01/26/2026 08:08 AM |
| County Counsel | Kimberly Hood | 02/02/2026 11:20 AM |
| Yen Nguyen | Yen Nguyen | 02/05/2026 01:37 PM |
- Form Started By:
- AnnMarie Boylan
- Started On:
- 01/21/2026 01:51 PM
- Final Approval Date:
- 02/05/2026