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Approve an Appropriation Transfer Request totaling $118,000 increasing appropriations for vehicle maintenance and salary overtime costs and offset by recognizing $78,906 in unanticipated reimbursement revenues from the State of California Office of Emergency Services for the Montezuma Fire Protection District with remaining revenues from contingencies (4/5 vote required)
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The District recommends the Board of Directors approve an Appropriation Transfer Request totaling $118,000 increasing appropriations for vehicle maintenance and salary overtime costs and offset by recognizing $78,906 in unanticipated reimbursement revenues from the State of California Office of Emergency Services for the Montezuma Fire Protection District with remaining revenues from contingencies (4/5 vote required).
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION
The Montezuma Fire Protection District is requesting approval of an Appropriation Transfer Request totaling $118,000 to increase fiscal year appropriations for Vehicle Maintenance and Overtime costs necessary to maintain operational readiness and emergency response capabilities throughout the District.
The District has experienced higher than anticipated maintenance and operational costs related to frontline fire apparatus, water tenders, and support vehicles. Several fleet assets have required significant repairs and maintenance due to increased utilization, aging equipment, extended operational demands, and rising costs associated with parts, labor, and outside repair services. The District’s emergency response fleet is critical to maintaining reliable fire protection and emergency medical response services throughout the community. Immediate repairs and preventative maintenance are necessary to ensure apparatus remain safe, operational, and compliant with applicable safety and operational standards. Failure to complete the necessary repairs could result in increased apparatus downtime, reduced response capabilities, and impacts to emergency service delivery.
In addition to vehicle maintenance expenditures, the District has experienced increased overtime costs associated with maintaining minimum staffing levels, emergency incident responses, mutual aid responses, training requirements, sick leave coverage, and operational backfill needs. The additional overtime funding is necessary to ensure continuity of operations and maintain safe staffing levels required to meet service demands throughout the remainder of the fiscal year and is offset by State Cal OES revenue reimbursement totaling $78,906 due to higher deployment of staffing on regional incidents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The District received $128,906 from the State of California for reimbursement from Mutual aid responses to fires throughout California. The FY2025/26 budget included $50,000, resulting in a recognition of $78,906 in additional revenues. The remaining revenues will come from contingencies using fund balance to address unanticipated equipment repairs.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board may choose not to approve the requested Appropriation Transfer Request. This is not recommended as it could result in reduced fleet maintenance capabilities, increased apparatus downtime, and operational staffing challenges that may impact the District’s ability to maintain emergency response readiness.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES).
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION