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Adopt a resolution authorizing the Sheriff’s Office to apply for and participate in the FY2026/27 Boating Safety and Enforcement Financial Aid Program in the amount of up to $317,133 plus any available prior year augmentation funds; Authorize the Sheriff, Undersheriff, or Director of Administrative Services to sign the Boating Safety and Enforcement Financial Aid Program Application, Agreement, and administer the grant, including signing any grant related documents; Authorize the County Auditor-Controller to certify personal property taxes on vessels received annually by the County; and Certify that 100% of the amount received by the County from personal property taxes on vessels shall be spent on boating safety programs
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Sheriff recommends that the Board of Supervisors:
1. Adopt a resolution authorizing the Sheriff’s Office to apply for and participate in the FY2026/27 Boating Safety and Enforcement Financial Aid Program in the amount of up to $317,133 plus any available prior year augmentation funds
2. Authorize the Sheriff, Undersheriff, or Director of Administrative Services to sign the Boating Safety and Enforcement Financial Aid Program Application, Agreement, and administer the grant, including signing any grant related documents;
3. Authorize the County Auditor-Controller to certify personal property taxes on vessels received annually by the County; and
4. Certify that 100% of the amount received by the County from personal property taxes on vessels shall be spent on boating safety programs.
SUMMARY:
The Solano County Sheriff’s Office operates a highly successful Marine Patrol program. To support program operations, the Sheriff applies annually for Boating Safety and Enforcement Financial Aid Program (BS&E) funds from the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW). BS&E funds support boating safety and enforcement activities on the County’s waterways. Solano County has received these funds for over 25 years and continues to be eligible because the cost of boating safety and enforcement activities exceeds the value of actual vessel taxes collected by the County. Upon completion of the FY2026/27 application, which is due December 31, 2025, the Sheriff’s Office is eligible to receive up to $317,133 and, if available, any one-time annual augmentation funds from DBW.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The Solano County Sheriff’s Office is eligible to receive up to $317,133 from DBW to offset the Sheriff’s Marine Patrol program expenses and is also eligible to receive a portion of any unallocated BS&E funds on a one-time basis, per California Code of Regulations, Title 14, subsection 6593.7(c)(3), because as a participating agency, the Sheriff’s Office incurs expenditures that exceed the funding received under this program.
Revenue from personal property taxes on vessels and General Fund appropriations also sustain Marine Patrol operations. California Harbors and Navigation Code §663.7 governing the financial aid requires that the County first expend all funds received from personal property taxes on recreational boats registered in the County on the boating safety and enforcement program before receiving financial aid from the State. All aid received must be spent on boating safety and enforcement and will be disbursed on a reimbursement basis. The Sheriff’s Marine Patrol revenue and expenditures, including the financial aid from DBW, will be included in the Sheriff’s FY2026/27 Requested Budget.
Prior years unallocated funds are reallocated by DBW on an annual one-time basis to those participating agencies that incurred expenditures exceeding their baseline eligibility allocations during the most recent calendar year. For FY2024/25 the Sheriff’s Office received a one-time augmentation of $18,969 for over-expenditures related to the FY2023/24 Financial Aid Program, these funds were drawn down in FY2024/25. Moreover, the Sheriff’s Office recently received notice of a funding reduction of $92,731 from $317,133 to $224,401 for FY2025/26 due to state budget constraints.
The costs associated with preparing this agenda item are nominal and absorbed by the Department’s FY2025/26 Working Budget.
DISCUSSION:
The Boating Safety and Enforcement Financial Aid Program was established in 1969 by Assembly Bill 1827, which became section 663.7 of the California Harbors and Navigation Code once enacted. Section 6593 of the California Code of Regulations was developed in 2002 to further implement this program. The main purpose of this program is to provide public safety and resources to recreational boaters and commercial vessels operating on Solano County waterways, and to promote safe boating and save lives through accident prevention.
BS&E provides State financial aid to local government agencies whose waterways have high usage by boaters but an insufficient tax base to fully support a boating safety and enforcement program. BS&E Financial Aid Program is intended to augment existing local resources for boating safety and enforcement activities and is not intended to fully fund these programs. Solano County has participated since FY1996/97.
The Sheriff’s Marine Patrol performs random boating safety inspections, security checks of bridges and other potential terrorist targets, assists stranded boaters, conducts accident investigations, assists in search and rescue/recovery missions, issues warnings/citations and makes arrests when warranted. Marine Patrol also provides mutual aid to Sacramento, Yolo, and Contra Costa Counties.
California Code of Regulations, Title 14, section 6593.4 specifically states that the Board must approve a resolution authorizing an individual to sign the contract and the reimbursement forms. It is recommended that the Sheriff be authorized to sign the agreement and authorize the Sheriff, Undersheriff, and Director of Administrative Services to sign all other documents pertaining to this program.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board can choose not to participate in the program; however, this alternative is not recommended as nonparticipation will result in the loss of up to $317,133 in funding necessary to effectively administer boating safety, enforcement and rescue on County waterways. These funds will be obligated to other Counties and no longer be available to Solano County.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
None.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION