To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office
Staff Name and Phone Number: Sheriff Eddie Engram, 565-2650, Jeff Bean, 565-2003
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
FY 26-27 Boating Safety and Enforcement Financial Aid Program
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Adopt a Resolution authorizing Eddie Engram, Sheriff-Coroner to participate in the Boating Safety and Enforcement Financial Aid Program by executing required documents to receive grant funding for provision of boating safety and enforcement services in an amount not-to-exceed $363,633 for FY 26-27 and authorize the Sonoma County Auditor-Controller-Treasurer-Tax Collector to certify the amount of prior year vessel taxes received by the County.
end
Executive Summary:
The Sheriff-Coroner is seeking the Board’s approval to continue participation in the Boating Safety and Enforcement Financial Aid Program administered by the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of Boating and Waterways. If approved, Sheriff-Coroner will be able to accept $363,633 to help support the Marine Unit’s boating safety and enforcement activities on Sonoma County waterways in FY 26-27. There are no changes to the prior years’ participation with the exception of the amount of the award, which is explained in the discussion below.
Discussion:
The California Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) provides financial aid to grantees for boating safety and enforcement expenses. The purpose of the program is to provide financial aid to local governmental agencies whose waterways have high usage by transient boaters and an insufficient boat tax base to fully support a boating safety and enforcement program. The program is intended to augment existing local resources for boating safety and enforcement activities and is not intended to fully fund these programs.
This item requests continued participation in the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Division of Boating and Waterways Financial Aid Program. Participation in the program requires a resolution that:
(A) Authorizes the chairperson, or designated representative, to sign the application and contract.
(B) Authorizes the chairperson, or designated agency representative, to sign the department’s form for each reimbursement claim.
(C) Authorizes the county auditor to certify the amount of prior year vessel taxes received by the county.
The Sheriff’s Office has received grant funds from the Division of Boating and Waterways since 1985. Most recently, Sheriff’s Office staff submitted a Financial Aid Program application for FY 25-26 and received an initial award of $513,899. Due to the insolvency of the State’s Harbors and Watercraft Revolving Fund, the Boating Safety and Enforcement Financial Aid Program has temporarily reduced program funds from $11.5 million to $8.1 million, resulting in a current year reduction to all agencies participating in the program. The revised FY 25-26 Sonoma County allocation is $363,633, a reduction of $150,266. Marine Unit services (boat patrols, boater interactions, and outreach activities) are being reduced to compensate for the reduced funding.
The FY 26-27 award estimate being submitted to the Board continues the FY 25-26 level of services. As a grantee in the Financial Aid Program, the Marine Unit can claim reimbursement for direct program-related costs including personnel, operations, equipment, maintenance, and administration up to the award amount. Costs related to peace officer training, weapons, and the purchase of vessels or vehicles, and one-time payments for separation or medical causes are ineligible for reimbursement. If approved, next year’s grant will subsidize and offset approximately 26.2% of the FY 26-27 projected costs associated with providing law enforcement services on Sonoma County waterways. The grant also requires the county in which an applicant agency resides agrees to spend an amount equal to 100 percent of vessel taxes received by the county for boating safety and enforcement activities prior to the agency receiving State financial aid under this program.
The Sheriff’s Office is the law enforcement agency responsible for monitoring and responding to calls for service on all Sonoma County waterways. This grant funding assists the Sheriff’s Office in meeting its law enforcement obligations. If the County does not accept this grant funding, additional County support of $363,633 would be needed to maintain reduced service levels or additional service reductions would be needed.
Occasionally, there have been opportunities to increase the amount of grant funding post award. Such opportunities are rare but require quick turnaround due to the limited length of the boating season. Unallocated funds may also be distributed in a one-time augmentation payment under the guidelines of California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Subsection 6593.7 (c) (3). The most recent occurrence for this type of distribution occurred in May 2025 for the FY 23-24 Grant Program. Therefore, the Sheriff-Coroner is requesting authorization to execute any amendments or additional documents related to this grant, in consultation with the County Administrator and County Counsel, and under the condition that such documents have no increase to the Sheriff’s Budget General Fund net cost.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
Financial Aid Program authorizations with the Division of Boating and Waterways have been approved annually since 1985, most recently, Resolution 24-0494 on December 3, 2024.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY25-26 Adopted |
FY26-27 Projected |
FY27-28 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$1,677,199 |
$1,389,929 |
|
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
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Total Expenditures |
$1,677,199 |
$1,389,929 |
|
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
$766,555 |
$746,296 |
|
|
State/Federal |
$910,644 |
$643,633 |
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Fees/Other |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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General Fund Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
$1,677,199 |
$1,389,929 |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
The DBW Financial Aid Program will provide reimbursement for an estimated 26.2% of the Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit boating safety and enforcement expenses for FY 26-27. The Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit FY 26-27 Requested Budget will include anticipated funding from the Financial Aid Program ($363,633), revenue from a federal contract for services for the Sheriff’s Office to conduct law enforcement activities on Lake Sonoma ($280,000), and assumes continued, budgeted General Fund support ($746,296). FY 26-27 estimates are based on the FY 25-26 Marine Unit adopted budget plus a 3 percent cost escalator. No new General Fund appropriations are being sought with this action.
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Staffing Impacts: |
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Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
1. 12-09-2025 FY 26-27 DBW Financial Aid Program Resolution.
2. 12-09-2025 FY 26-27 DBW Financial Aid Program Application - DRAFT.
3. 12-09-2025 FY 26-27 DBW Financial Aid Grant Agreement - DRAFT.
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
N/A