To: Board of Supervisors
From: County Administrative Office
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Transfer from General Fund Contingencies (4/5 Vote Required)
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Approve a transfer from Contingencies (1100-990) (Attachment A) for fiscal year (FY) 2018-19 in the amount of $235,000 for unanticipated expenditures in the Courts-County Contribution (1100-250) (requires 4/5 vote) and $1,200 for unanticipated expenditures in the Grand Jury (1100-217); and
2. Direct the Auditor-Controller to post the transfer from Contingencies in accordance with Attachment A.
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
General Fund
DISCUSSION:
The Courts-County Contribution (1100-250) had a General Fund allocation of $936,573 to provide outside counsel, investigators and experts for indigent defense that could not be assigned to the Humboldt County Public Defender Offices. Additionally utility costs for the state court areas are paid from this budget unit, as are transcripts that are required to be paid by the county. There are unexpected overages totaling an estimated $235,000 for FY 2018-19. The overdrafts in the services and supplies are due to a marked increase in the utilization of experts in defense of criminal cases, increased representation in homicide cases and an increase in transcript costs. A number of overlapping mandates from the United States Constitution to the California Penal Code require the county to provide indigent defense. In addition, the Grand Jury had unanticipated expenditures of $1,200 due to the purchase of a new computer system required to prepare annual Grand Jury reports.
It is recommended that the Board approve the attached transfer (Attachment A) in the amount of $236,200 from the General Fund Contingency to the Courts-County Contribution budget (1100-250) and the Grand Jury (1100-217) in order to balance and close the FY 2018-19 budget.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Unexpected costs created additional spending in the Courts-County Contribution and the Grand Jury budget totaling $236,200. These expenses have been incurred and were required to provide mandated services in FY 2018-19. The impacted budget unit had no additional revenues available to cover the increased costs and therefore a transfer from Contingencies is required. The current balance in the General Fund Contingency budget available for use in FY 2018-19 is $3,677,880. The approval of this transfer will obligate 6 percent of the county’s contingency funding, resulting in an ending balance of $3,441,680.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by managing our resources to ensure sustainability of services and protecting vulnerable populations.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None.
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board may choose not to approve the appropriation transfer. However, the Auditor’s Office is not able to process remaining payments and close FY 2018-19 until each budget unit balances. In order to do this, other funds would have to be identified to cover the outlined expenses.
ATTACHMENTS:
Request for Budget Appropriation Transfer/Adjustment
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: N/A
Meeting of: N/A
File No.: N/A