Report 2018-133 Recommendations

To better ensure that it reimburses local fire agencies appropriate amounts for responding to incidents, including the provision of strike teams for fighting wildfires, Cal OES should complete implementation of its plan to audit a sample of salary forms and invoices that local fire agencies submit under the fire agreement. It should, by September 15, 2019, complete its negotiations to have the State Controller's Office perform these audits.

To further ensure that local fire agencies receive proper reimbursement for responding to incidents, Cal OES should recommend to the Agreement Committee that it include the following steps in the new fire agreement, anticipated to be effective starting in 2020:

1) Require local fire agencies to submit documents showing approval by their governing bodies of the average actual salary rates included on the salary form that the local fire agencies submit to Cal OES.
2) Require local fire agencies to submit documentation to support their average actual salary rates.
3) Revise the salary form and reimbursement invoice form so that authorized representatives of local fire agencies sign them under penalty of perjury.

To ensure that local fire agencies receive proper reimbursement for responding to incidents for the remainder of the current fire agreement, Cal OES should recommend that as part of the negotiations process, the Agreement Committee implement the following for the remainder of the current agreement:

1) Require local fire agencies to submit documents showing approval by their governing bodies of the average actual salary rates included on the salary form that the local fire agencies submit to Cal OES.
2) Require local fire agencies to submit documentation to support their average actual salary rates.
3) Revise the salary form and reimbursement invoice form so that authorized representatives of local fire agencies sign them under penalty of perjury.

To ensure that the district complies with the reimbursement terms of the fire agreement and does not claim excessive reimbursement amounts, the district's board, by September 15, 2019, should create and implement a policy governing the reimbursement rate the fire chief claims for paid and recruit firefighters who participate on strike team assignments under the fire agreement. Additionally, the district's board should review and approve the annual salary form before the fire chief submits it to Cal OES.

To rectify the excessive reimbursement amounts it received for strike team assignments, the district should, by December 31, 2019, develop and implement a plan for returning to the paying agencies the excessive reimbursements it received for 2016 through 2018.

To rectify the excessive reimbursement amounts it received for strike team assignments, the district should, by December 31, 2019, work with Cal OES to identify the amounts of excess reimbursements the district received for 2013 through 2015 and then develop and implement a plan for returning those amounts to the paying agency.

To ensure that it complies with all applicable labor and wage laws, the district should, by September 15, 2019, seek advice from appropriate experts, such as legal counsel and tax advisors, regarding the proper characterization and compensation of its recruit firefighters. It should develop and implement a policy in this area that meets all applicable requirements.

To improve its financial viability and safeguard its ability to continue providing services to the Fallen Leaf Lake community, the district should, by December 31, 2019, monitor the financial risks it may face in the future, forecast their impact on its finances and budget, and plan and implement appropriate changes to its budget as necessary throughout the fiscal year.

To improve its financial viability and safeguard its ability to continue providing services to the Fallen Leaf Lake community, the district should, by December 31, 2019, limit the extent to which it relies on volatile revenue sources to balance its budget.

To improve its financial viability and safeguard its ability to continue providing services to the Fallen Leaf Lake community, the district should, by December 31, 2019, develop and implement a budget plan that realistically estimates changes in revenues and expenditures, and identifies approaches to address such changes.

To improve its financial viability and safeguard its ability to continue providing services to the Fallen Leaf Lake community, the district should, by December 31, 2019, develop a five-year forecast of estimated revenues and expenditures and a plan to guide its decisions and actions in the event of fluctuations.

To ensure that the district has an electorate of sufficient size from which it can elect members to its board, the Legislature should enact legislation to allow landowners and holders of Forest Service permits within the district, along with otherwise domiciled registered voters in the district, to vote on district matters and serve on the board.

To help voters in special districts elect full-size boards of directors and to help special district boards avoid quorum issues and service disruptions, the Legislature should amend state law to require a LAFCO to assess whether an electorate is of sufficient size when it considers creating or modifying a special district.