Regular-General Government # 26.
Board of Supervisors
Financial Services
- Meeting Date:
- 09/26/2023
- Brief Title
- Fire District Sustainability Funding Procedures
From:
Tom Haynes, Interim Chief Financial Officer, Department of Financial Services / Mark Bryan, Deputy County Administrator / Leslie Lindbo, Director, Department of Community Services
Staff Contact:
Elisa Sabatini, Manager of Natural Resources, Department of Community Services, x5773 / Tom Haynes, Interim Chief Financial Officer, Department of Financial Services, x8162
Supervisorial District Impact:
Countywide
Subject
Approve procedures for administering Yolo County Fire Protection District sustainability funding. (No general fund impact) (Haynes/Sabatini) (Est. Time: 5 min)
Recommended Action
Approve procedures for administering Yolo County Fire Protection District sustainability funding.
Strategic Plan Goal(s)
 |
Safe Communities Improved Rural Fire Protection Sustainability |
Reason for Recommended Action/Background
On April 18, 2023, the Board of Supervisors approved in principle a funding plan to provide up to $1.5 million annually to support the long-term financial sustainability of Yolo County Fire Protection Districts. As part of that action, the Board directed staff to return to the Board at a later time with various funding recommendations. The Fire District Sustainability Funding Plan, included as Attachment A to this item, provides detailed procedures for how the disbursement of financial sustainability funding will be administered.
The Funding Plan documents a number of the conceptual proposals that were discussed at the April 18, 2023 Board meeting, and includes a number of other elements to aid in the budgeting, reporting, disbursement and accountability for Fire District sustainability funding. Notable provisions include the following:
- Sustainability funding is only available for direct-service Fire Protection Districts that are not subject to a Board-approved dissolution process;
- Funding will be allocated 60% equal allocation across Fire Districts and 40% based on three-year average call volume;
- Sustainability funding is intended to be a match for additional revenues generated as part of a new Proposition 218 process, up to the maximum amount calculated for each Fire District;
- Districts that attempt in good faith a new Proposition 218 election that fails may request a one-time grant, which must be approved by the Board. Grant requests may be made for two years unless a subsequent Proposition 218 election is held;
- The Board of Supervisors retains the authority to modify funding levels at any time, and funding allocations will be recalculated every five years to account for changes in call volume;
- Fire Districts that receive matching funds must submit an annual performance report to demonstrate the benefits achieved from the financial assistance. Failure to submit an annual performance report will result in a one-year suspension from eligibility to receive sustainability funding;
- Sustainability funding is subject to review by the County's Internal Audit division, and any use of funds that is found to be in violation of law or policy will be returned to the County.
To date, six Fire Districts have gone through a new Proposition 218 process. Elections in the Capay Valley, West Plainfield, and Willow Oak Districts passed, while those in the Dunnigan, Esparto, and Madison Fire Districts failed. The Clarksburg, Knights Landing, Yolo and Winters Fire Districts are scheduled to undergo a new Proposition 218 process in early calendar year 2024, followed by East Davis, Springlake, No Man's Land and CSA-9/Elkhorn (once the LAFCo dissolution process has concluded).
Collaborations (including Board advisory groups and external partner agencies)
The Department of Financial Services worked closely with the Department of Community Services and the County Administrator's Office in the development of the Fire District Sustainability Funding Plan. The Plan was discussed with the Fire Sustainability Ad Hoc Subcommittee on August 30 and September 18, and was distributed to the Yolo Fire Chiefs Association in advance of the September 26 Board meeting.
Fiscal Impact
No Fiscal Impact
Fiscal Impact (Expenditure)
- Total cost of recommended action:
- $
- Amount budgeted for expenditure:
- $
- Additional expenditure authority needed:
- $
- On-going commitment (annual cost):
- $
Source of Funds for this Expenditure
- General Fund
Further explanation as needed:
There is no direct fiscal impact of the recommended action. On April 18, 2023 the Board of Supervisors approved in principle a funding plan to provide up to $1.5 million annually to Yolo County Fire Protection Districts. The $1.5 million is included in the 2023-24 Adopted Budget, and was funded with General Fund fund balance. This funding commitment will become an ongoing General Fund obligation in future years unless alternate funding sources are identified.
Attachments
- Att. A. Fire District Sustainability Funding Plan
- Att. B. Fire District Sustainability Funding Allocations
- Att. C. Presentation
- Att. D. Correspondence from Clarksburg Community Petition
- Att. E. Correspondence from the Clarksburg Fire Protection District
Form Review
| Inbox | Reviewed By | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Tom Haynes | Tom Haynes | 09/18/2023 09:19 PM |
| Mark Bryan | Mark Bryan | 09/21/2023 11:05 AM |
- Form Started By:
- Tom Haynes
- Started On:
- 08/28/2023 04:34 PM
- Final Approval Date:
- 09/21/2023