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COUNTY OF SAN MATEO
Inter-Departmental Correspondence
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Environmental Services Agency
Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer Division
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DATE:
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October 12, 2005
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BOARD MEETING DATE:
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November 8, 2005
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SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:
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None
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VOTE REQUIRED:
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4/5ths
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TO:
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Honorable Board of Supervisors
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FROM:
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Marcia Raines, Environmental Services Agency Director
Gail Raabe, Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer
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SUBJECT:
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Approval of an Appropriation Transfer Request (ATR) in the Amount of $10,125 in Unanticipated Revenue from Agricultural Fines to Provide Funding for Extra Help Hours and Associated Benefits
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RECOMMENDATION:
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Approve an Appropriation Transfer Request in the amount of $10,125 in unanticipated revenue from Agricultural Fines to Salaries and Benefits Accounts to provide funding for extra help hours and associated benefits.
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VISION ALIGNMENT:
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Commitment: Preserve and Provide People Access to Our Natural Environment
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Goal 14: Important natural resources are preserved and enhanced through environmental stewardship
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The ATR contributes to this commitment and goal by providing funding for the Division to continue to meet mandated responsibilities and state contractual obligations that protect the agricultural industry and the environment from harmful pests that may be introduced into California through the use of Extra Help while a permanent Biologist/Standards Specialist is out on medical leave.
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BACKGROUND:
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The Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer Division has a number of mandated responsibilities as well as state contractual obligations that require inspections to be performed throughout the fiscal year in order to meet state mandates and contract workplans. In addition, the Division strives to respond to industry requests for services on a timely basis.
The Agricultural Commissioner/Sealer has the authority to levy administrative civil penalties for a variety of regulatory programs. As of October 2005, the Division has collected $ 13,000 in administrative penalties for FY 2005-06. This revenue was not included in the Division’s Adopted Budget.
As of October 11, 2005 one Biologist/Standards Specialist IV has taken a medical leave of absence due to a scheduled surgery and the anticipated recovery time. His physician has projected that he will be unable to return to work prior to February 2006.
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DISCUSSION:
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With the approval of this ATR, the Division proposes to hire a Biologist/Standards Specialist I, Extra Help from approximately November 14, 2005 through February 10, 2006 for a total of 480 hours. The salary costs will be $9,643 and the benefits (payroll taxes) costs will be $482. This extra help Biologist will assist the Division by performing agricultural inspection duties during the time period that one Biologist/Standards Specialist IV is out on medical leave. The appropriation of this unanticipated revenue will allow the Division to maintain its current staff hours in weights and measures activities and in agricultural programs. If the extra help Biologist is not hired, the Division will have to reduce the number of hours that permanent Biologist/Standards Specialists currently spend in weights and measures or other agricultural programs in order to fulfill state contractual obligations.
The Division has deposited $13,000 during FY 2005-06 to date in Account 1466 Agricultural Fines. This unanticipated revenue derives from administrative fines for regulatory violations levied on retail businesses with point of sale price scanner systems and on pest control businesses. The ATR will set up an appropriation of $10,125 in the Environmental Protection Program’s budget from which to make Salaries and Benefits payments for this proposed extra help Biologist/Standards Specialist I.
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FISCAL IMPACT:
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The total amount of the unanticipated revenue to be recognized and appropriated is $10,125. This revenue has already been received by the Division and deposited in Account 1466, Agricultural Fines. The salaries and benefits cost of employing the extra help Biologist/Standards Specialist I are offset by the unanticipated revenue. There is no Net County Cost associated with this ATR.
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