Title
Adopt Resolution No. to:
a. Receive a report on the Sheriff’s Office COVID19 response as previously approved under CARES Act through December 30, 2020 and the associated financial impacts for continuation of the response from January 1, 2021 to June 30, 2021; and
b. Support authorizing and directing the Auditor-Controller to increase appropriations by
$2,191,000 in Sheriff-Coroner’s FY 2020-21 Adopted Budget to fund the Sheriff’s Office
response to the pandemic COVID-19 as detailed in Schedule I, financed by the State Hold revenue from the CDCR amounting to $1,098,908 and offset from the Cannabis Assignment or other funding authorized by the Board amounting to $1,092,092. (4/5th vote required)
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
Adopt Resolution No. to:
a. Receive a report on the Sheriff’s Office COVID19 response as previously approved under CARES Act through December 30, 2020 and the associated financial impacts for continuation of the response from January 1, 2021 to June 30, 2021; and
b. Support authorizing and directing the Auditor-Controller to increase appropriations by $2,191,000 in Sheriff-Coroner’s FY 2020-21 Adopted Budget to fund the Sheriff’s Office response to the pandemic COVID-19 as detailed in Schedule I, financed by the State Hold revenue from the CDCR amounting to $1,098,908 and offset from the Cannabis Assignment or other funding authorized by the Board amounting to $1,092,092. (4/5th vote required)
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
On March 4, 2020, Governor Gavin Newson declared a State of Emergency in California to help combat the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). On March 27, 2020, the US Congress passed the CARES Act that provided assistance for State, Local and Tribal Governments. The County of Monterey was allocated $44.3 million of the CARES Act funding of which $7,736,022 was allocated to the Sheriff’s Office as approved by the Board of Supervisors on August 18, 2020. CARES Act funding ended on December 30, 2020. The pandemic COVID19 continues and the impact to the Sheriff’s operations to mitigate the spread of COVID19 and the additional load to the Coroner’s Office brought by increase in deaths has prompted the Sheriff’s Office to request for an increase in Appropriations to cover the additional expenditures necessary to fight this pandemic.
In late March 2020, the State of California halted the intake and/or transfer of inmates from county jails into state prisons to reduce the risk of COVID-19 entering the state prison system. In circumstances where CDCR cannot accept the intake and/or transfer of an inmate from the county jail, the state is required to reimburse counties for holding inmates. As of December 1, 2020, the state has provided $38.8 million to county sheriff’s and county correction departments for housing inmates due to the temporary stoppage of prison intake. This reflects payments for inmates held in county jails from March through November, and reimbursements will continue until such time that all inmates are transferred to state prison. The Sheriff’s Office has recognized the revenue received in March to June 2020 in the fiscal year 2019-20 that helped the Sherriff’s Office mitigate needing additional GFC for loss revenue during that year. During the current fiscal year, it was estimated that $1,098,908 will be available to fund the need for an increase in Appropriations to continue fight for the pandemic COVID19.
This report is to show the financial impact for the continuation for the pandemic COVID-19 from January 1, 2021 to June 30, 2021 summarized as follows:
Period: January 1, 2021 to June 30, 2021
Fiscal Year: FY 2019-20
COVID-19 Expenditures: $ 7,359,680
Funding Identified: $ 5,168,680
Gap in funding: $2,191,000
COVID19 Expenditures for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2020-21 amount to $7,359,680. This includes payroll and overtime costs of redirected staff, emergency paid leave, costs to modify staff workplace to comply with social distancing measures, testing costs, cleaning and sanitizing supplies, Personal Protective Equipment, software for the School Resource Officer, jail meals preparation modifications, security and transportation costs of inmates to hospitals and Coroner’s autopsy costs and equipment. The Coroner’s Office is experiencing 40% increase in case reports and 26% increase in autopsy costs. Additional Coroner’s costs also include COVID testing for every decedent and body transportation fee. The State of California has loaned a temporary body storage until March 30. After this period, there is a need to lease another body storage and purchase additional body bags to meet the continued needs of the Coroner’s Office. Of the total COVID19 expenditures, the Sheriff’s Office will be able to absorb $5,168,680 from its Adopted Budget. This leaves $2,191,00 needing increase in Appropriations. This increase in Appropriations will be partly funded by the State Hold revenue for holding State inmates in the County Jail amounting to $1,098,908 with the remaining amount from the Cannabis Assignment.
Please refer to Schedule I for the breakdown of the $2,191,000 requested COVID19 funding.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The County Administrative Office (CAO) has reviewed this report and this request was presented to the Board of Supervisors by the Undersheriff John Mineau and CAO on January 12, 2021.
FINANCING:
The Sheriff’s Office is asking support from the Board of Supervisors to approve the request in increase in appropriations by $2,191,000 in Sheriff-Coroner’s the FY 2020-21 Adopted Budget financed by the State Hold revenue from the CDCR amounting to $1,098,908 and offset from the Cannabis Assignment or other funding authorized by the Board amounting to $1,092,092. This will ensure the County’s appropriate public safety response to the pandemic COVID-19 for the remainder of FY 2020-21.
Prepared by: Jonabel O. Perez, Finance Manager II, X4559
John Mineau, Undersheriff, X3859
Approved by: Steve Bernal, Sheriff, X3856
Attachments: Board Report; Attachment A: Schedule 1; Attachment B: Resolution