Title
a. Approve and authorize the Auditor-Controller to amend the FY 2015-16 Agricultural Commissioner’s adopted budget, Fund 001, Appropriation Unit AGR001 to increase appropriation by $200,000, to make a transfer to Parks’ Fund 452 for the monitoring and exclusion of the Zebra and Quagga Mussel in FY 2015-16. The appropriation increase is funded by restricted fund balance, account 001-3041-UGTR (4/5th vote required); and
b. Authorize the Auditor-Controller and County Administrative Office to reflect approved changes in FY 2015-16 Adopted Budget.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve and authorize the Auditor-Controller to amend the FY 2015-16 Agricultural Commissioner’s adopted budget, Fund 001, Appropriation Unit AGR001 to increase appropriation by $200,000, to make a transfer to Parks’ Fund 452 for the monitoring and exclusion of the Zebra and Quagga Mussel in FY 2015-16. The appropriation increase is funded by restricted fund balance, account 001-3041-UGTR (4/5th vote required); and
b. Authorize the Auditor-Controller and County Administrative Office to reflect approved changes in FY 2015-16 Adopted Budget.
SUMMARY:
The Agricultural Commissioner processed a Board action which was approved on June 9, 2015. The intention was, among other things, to transfer $200,000 of restricted revenue to Parks in FY 2014-15 for use in the County Zebra and Quagga Mussel program. Due to errors in the wording of the Board Report, the transfer to Parks could not be executed, and this serves to correct the error. The Budget Committee approved this action on October 28, 2015.
DISCUSSION:
The wording on the June 9, 2015, Board Report did not allow for the transfer to Parks in FY 2014-15 for use in FY 2015-16. Instead, as worded, the $200,000 would have fallen into fund balance. As a result, at the suggestion of the Auditor’s Office, funds were transferred to a restricted fund account. Now, another Board action to appropriate the funds as intended is necessary. This action requests that the $200,000 be appropriated from the restricted revenue account to the Agricultural Commissioner’s Budget and then into Parks’ Fund 452 for its originally intended use.
The recommended actions comply with Board guidelines, facilitating projects that will result in improvements that provide long-term benefits that might otherwise be delayed or not occur at all. The recommended use of funds benefits the Agricultural Commissioner’s maintenance of effort requirement, ensuring the continued receipt of Unclaimed Gas Tax revenue, which totaled over $1.7 million in this FY. Additionally, these expenditures will utilize available resources for reimbursable agricultural related expenses and provide for some future revenue recovery.
The $200,000 for the County Zebra and Quagga Mussel program will assist in continuing the comprehensive prevention program required by California Fish and Game Code Section 2302 to prevent the introduction of the mussels into the lakes. Dreissenid mussels (Zebra and Quagga mussels) are invasive aquatic organisms that must be excluded from the San Antonio and
Nacimiento lakes to prevent severe impacts to the County’s water storage and delivery system for agriculture. California Fish and Game Code Section 2302 requires the County to develop and implement a program to prevent the introduction of the non-native Dreissenid mussel species. The Agricultural Commissioner, Parks Department and Water Resources Agency are working under a Memorandum of Understanding to prevent the introduction of invasive species and protect the County’s resources.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The Agricultural Commissioner’s Office has been working closely with the Parks Department relative to the Dreissenid mussel prevention program. Both the County Budget Office and the Auditor’s Office have reviewed the recommended actions and are in agreement with those actions.
FINANCING:
The proposed action utilizes funds in restricted fund balance and has no impact on the general fund.
Prepared by:
Sheila Salazar, Finance Manager, 759-7381
Approved by:
Eric Lauritzen, Agricultural Commissioner, 759-7325
Attachments:
None