DATE: June 4, 2019
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Margaret Mims, Sheriff
SUBJECT: Amendment to Master Schedule of Fees - Sheriff
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Conduct first hearing to amend the Fresno County Master Schedule of Fees, Charges and Recovered Costs Ordinance by amending Subsection 1903 of Section 1900 - Coroner; waive reading of the Ordinance in its entirety; and set second hearing for June 18, 2019;
2. Designate County Counsel to prepare a fair and adequate summary of the proposed Ordinance; and
3. Direct the Clerk of the Board to post and publish the required summary in accordance with Government Code Section 25124(b)(1).
REPORT
Approval of the recommended actions would revise the existing Master Schedule of Fees, Charges, and Recovered Costs for Subsection 1903 - Coroner Report Fees by updating current rates based on the Department’s costs for FY 2019-20. This amendment will allow the Sheriff’s Office to recover the salary and benefits costs, operating costs, and an indirect cost rate for a full time Chief Forensic Pathologist, Forensic Pathologist and 39% of a Sheriff's Lieutenant position. This item is countywide.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Your Board may direct staff to continue to use current fees or propose alternative fees which may not recover 100% of costs.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. It is anticipated that with the proposed Coroner Report fees, the Sheriff’s Office will ensure full cost recovery for salary and benefits costs, services and supplies and the associated indirect cost rate proposal (ICRP) of 9.72%, a 30% increase for FY 2019-20 (last cost study was done in 2009).
DISCUSSION:
In accordance with the County Ordinance Code 4.44.020, fees charged to the public must be included in the County’s Master Schedule of Fees, charges and recovered costs and any revision or modification to the schedule requires approval by the Board of Supervisors.
The Coroner Report Fee has not been adjusted since 2009. On January 6, 2009, the Board approved an Amendment to the Master Schedule of Fees first hearing and on January 13, 2009 approved the second hearing and since then, the rate has not been changed.
Recommended updates to the Master Schedule of Fees for Subsection 1903 - Coroner Report Fee are detailed in Attachment A and reflect a 30% increase. The updated fees recover the salary and benefits costs, operating costs, and ICRP that will be incurred for the Chief Forensic Pathologist, Forensic Pathologist and 39% of a Sheriff's Lieutenant position in FY 2019-20.
The proposed fees ensure proper cost recovery and have been reviewed by the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer-Tax Collector.
Furthermore, the Sheriff’s Office will review other fees included in Section 1900 and will return with an item to your Board for approval of additional fees changes, as needed.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #21, January 13, 2009
BAI #5, January 6, 2009
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
MSF FY 2019-20 Attachment A
MSF FY 2019-20 Ordinance
MSF FY 2019-20 Exhibit A
On file with Clerk - Summary of Ordinance
CAO ANALYST:
Jeannie Z. Figueroa