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Calaveras supervisors direct planning to move Office of Emergency Services to sheriff’s office amid grant‑management concerns
Summary
County CEO told the board that years of inconsistent grant reporting risk a roughly $13 million deobligation tied to the Butte Fire. After public comment and debate about stewardship of mitigation work, the board voted 5–0 to direct staff to develop a formal transition plan to the sheriff’s office and retain preparedness/mitigation functions under administration.
Calaveras County’s Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Jan. 27 to direct county staff to develop a formal plan to transition the Office of Emergency Services (OES) from the County Administrative Office to the Sheriff’s Office, while keeping hazard mitigation and preparedness activities with county administration for continuity.
County Executive Officer Teresa Hitchcock told the board the move is driven by repeated problems in grants management and reporting. "Because of years of inadequate reporting and poor record keeping, Calaveras County is now facing the possibility of a $13,000,000 deobligation," Hitchcock said, describing the Butte Fire closeout and other delayed grant work as an ongoing fiscal risk. She said OES currently operates with two full‑time staff and a roughly $1.2 million primarily grant‑funded budget, a level she argued is insufficient for sustained disaster operations.
Hitchcock recommended the sheriff’s office as a better operational fit for 24/7 emergency response and surge staffing, while the administrative office would retain longer‑term mitigation, preparedness and fuels‑reduction functions. "This structure strengthens accountability, improves operational readiness, and ensures that both emergency response and long term hazard mitigation remain priorities," she said.
The proposal drew public comments from a range of community representatives and emergency officials. Greg Sessions, the county auditor‑controller, said he supports the move, emphasizing the need to secure reimbursements and improve follow‑through on grants. CAL FIRE’s unit chief, Nick Cashew, said his agency will continue to work with OES regardless of where it reports. Some residents and a former official urged caution and asked for clarity on costs and governance, arguing emergency management is a specialized profession that must preserve multiagency partnerships.
Several supervisors stressed the importance of clearly delineating functions to avoid service gaps. The board’s motion instructs staff to return with draft ordinances, a transition timeline, position reviews, budget proposals and an inventory of open grants and obligations. The motion passed 5–0.
Under the board’s direction, staff will prepare a detailed plan for review that addresses staffing, funding, legal changes and how mitigation projects and existing partnerships will be preserved during the change. Board members said full budget and operational details will return for approval before any transfer of authority occurs.
