Legislative Analyst's Office

Analysis of the 2001-02 Budget Bill


Office of Emergency Services (0690)

The 2001-02 Governor's Budget includes nearly $1.3 million from the General Fund for the Office of Emergency Services (OES) capital outlay program. This amount would fund site acquisition and preliminary plans to construct additional facilities at the department's new headquarters building.

Insufficient Information on Proposed Headquarters Buildings

We recommend the Legislature delete $1.3 million for site acquisition and preliminary plans to construct additional facilities at the department's new headquarters because no justification has been provided for why these are needed. (Delete Item 0690-301-0001 [1]).

The Governor's budget includes a request for $1.3 million from the General Fund for site acquisition and preliminary plans to construct warehouse, laboratory, and shop space at the department's new headquarters in east Sacramento County. The proposal includes $1.1 million for site acquisition of three acres and $206,000 for preliminary plans for a 22,570 gross square foot facility. The estimated future cost for working drawings and construction is $4.6 million.

The Legislature originally approved site acquisition and design for the new headquarters building in 1996-97. At that time, the project included over 32,000 square feet of warehouse and shop space for OES. During design of the project, OES reevaluated the need for this space and determined that it was no longer needed. Consequently, when OES requested funds for construction, the Legislature was informed of this change and the project was approved as requested (that is, without warehouse and shop space).

The department has provided no information to justify why the previously approved scope of work for the headquarters building is inadequate. Consequently, we recommend the Legislature delete $1.3 million under Item 0690-301-0001 (1).


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