Mid-year budget adjustments include funds for SDCRFA

The mid-year budget adjustments approved April 25 by the San Diego County Board of Supervisors included appropriating $1,037,425 to the San Diego County Regional Fire Authority (SDCRFA) for apparatus purchases and $1,000,000 to the SDCRFA for the purchase of defibrillator monitors and the funding of increased fire and emergency medical services.

The county supervisors' 5-0 vote utilized California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reimbursement for the apparatus purchases which will be used for the county's assistance-by-hire program and a fund balance from the county's Public Safety Group for the defibrillator monitors and the funding of increased fire and emergency medical services.

The third-quarter adjustments increase 2016-17 general fund expenditures by $3,256,286. The year-end fund balance is projected to be $248.8 million consisting of $40.6 million of anticipated revenue above what was planned when the 2016-17 budget was approved, $161.8 million of operations costs below what was budgeted, and $46.4 million of unspent contingency and management reserves for projects which have been completed. Approximately $84.6 million of that fund balance was included for 2017-18 spending in the preliminary budget.

Cal Fire is authorized to enter into agreements with local agencies for reimbursement when local agency resources are used to assist in combating fires in a state responsibility area. The current Cal Fire agreement with the county was approved in January 2016 and covers the period through August 31, 2020. The county will use the Cal Fire reimbursement to provide apparatus for its assistance-by-hire program in which the SDCRFA collaborates with Cal Fire on an as-needed basis.

The appropriations from the Public Safety Group fund balance will provide $180,000 of capital assets equipment and $820,000 of services and supplies.