Board approves search-and-rescue grant, budget transfers and preliminary FY2025-26 budget

The Del Norte County Board of Supervisors voted to authorize a Title III grant for the sheriff's search-and-rescue unit, adopt several budget transfers and accept the county's recommended fiscal year 2025-26 budget at a regular meeting.

The board approved a Title III funding application of $99,485 to support equipment procurement, training and deployments for the sheriff's search-and-rescue unit on federal lands in Del Norte County. Supervisor Wilson moved to approve the Title III request; Supervisor Short seconded. The motion passed by roll call with Supervisors Wilson, Short, Howard and Chair Borges voting yes; Supervisor Starkey was absent.

The board also approved three budget transfers: a $360 transfer from building maintenance and parks to cover unexpected key deposit refunds and two $6,000 transfers from contingency to augment the Pacific Shores settlement budget to fund utilities at the Pacific Shores host station. The transfers were approved on motion, each carried by the same four-member majority.

Measure R funding recommendations reviewed and endorsed by the Measure R Oversight Advisory Committee were approved. The board additionally directed departments that receive Measure R funding to clearly identify purchases where possible. Norma Williams, chapter president of DNCEA SEIU Local 1021, told the board the union had reviewed Attachment A of the recommended budget and had approved it after resolving a single issue with county staff.

On the county's broader finances, the board accepted the CAO and audit controller's recommended FY2025-26 budget as a preliminary step to keep county operations funded while the state finalizes its budget. The recommended budget and an attached position listing were approved; the board's motion included direction that departments refrain from nonapproved fixed-asset purchases and that certain salary-to-other-category transfers be restricted until final adoption.

The board also approved the Border Coast Regional Airport Authority's proposed FY2025-26 budget as presented by the airport program fiscal manager.

Votes at a glance: - Consent agenda: approved (motion moved and seconded; Supervisors Short, Wilson, Howard and Chair Borges voted yes; Starkey absent). - Item 24: Authorize processing Title III funding application for the sheriff's search-and-rescue unit, $99,485 — approved (mover: Supervisor Wilson; seconder: Supervisor Short; yes: Wilson, Short, Howard, Borges). - Item 25: Budget transfer 57 — $360 for key deposit refunds — approved. - Item 26: Budget transfer O6-01 — $6,000 from contingency to Pacific Shores utilities — approved. - Item 27: Budget transfer 0603 — $6,000 to Pacific Shores utilities — approved. - Item 28: Received and reviewed Measure R Oversight and Advisory Committee FY24-25 annual report (no vote required). - Item 29: Approved Measure R funding requests as recommended by the Measure R Oversight Advisory Committee; directed departments to identify Measure R-funded purchases — approved. - Item 30: Approved recommended FY2025-26 budget, position listing and related directions to departments — approved (preliminary step; figures for final adoption pending state actions). - Item 31: Approved Border Coast Regional Airport Authority FY2025-26 budget — approved.

Supervisor Wilson praised the county's volunteer search-and-rescue personnel, describing their long-term contributions and saying the grant money would be "a godsend" for equipment, training and repairs. County staff and the CAO were present to answer procedural and budget questions.

The board closed the meeting after public comment and adjourned to its next scheduled meeting on July 8.