HomeMy WebLinkAbout16 - Budget Amendment - Paramedic Training - Paramedic TrainingMarch 8, 1999
Council Agenda
Item No. 16
TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Timothy Riley, Fire and Marine Chief
SUBJECT: Budget Amendment for Paramedic Training
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1) Authorize the Fire and Marine Chief to send three firefighters to paramedic
school.
2) Approve Budget Amendment (BA -051), increasing the Paramedic Fee Revenue
account by $170,000 and increasing the Fire and Marine Department budget by
$107,109 to cover the one -time costs associated with paramedic training.
On January 12, 1998, the City Council authorized the Fire and Marine Department
to send three firefighters to paramedic school in preparation for the annexation of
Newport Coast. As directed, these firefighters attended paramedic school and
graduated in July, 1998• Since the annexation has not taken place, they are still
assigned as firefighters today, awaiting promotion to paramedic through
annexation or the attrition of existing paramedics.
During calendar year 1999, we expect to promote all of these persons (and more)
to paramedic due to retirements and promotions; one in April, one in May and
possibly two in December. Thus, we would deplete our cadre of trained
paramedics beyond our needs. Additionally, there is only one paramedic training
class scheduled this year, commencing in April and concluding in October. If we
do not send any persons to school this April, we would not be able to have any
additional paramedics graduate until July, 2000. Therefore, we need to enroll three
firefighters in the next paramedic class to meet our projected needs in a timely
manner.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Saddleback College fees associated with paramedic training are $1,458 per
person or a total of $4,374 for three persons. Should we send three firefighters to
paramedic school, we would then have three firefighter vacancies for that six-
month period. We cover these vacancies with firefighters on a scheduled overtime
basis at a cost of $34,245 per six-month firefighter vacancy or a total of $102,735.
Over the past few years, we have used the Paramedic Designated Reserve fund to
pay for these training costs as well as the start -up costs for our ambulance
program. We have taken the fund balance from $311,266 in 1994 to its current
balance of $29,680. Our current FY 98/99 adopted budget for Paramedic Fees
Revenue is $810,000. Our projected revenue for year -end FY 98/99 is $980,000, an
increase of $170,000. We feel this overage should be channeled back into this
reserve fund to offset current and future program costs, such as paramedic
training and medical equipment replacement. Our 1999/2000 budget submittal
will include a more comprehensive plan on our reserve fund plan for the future.
For now, we are requesting $107,109 be allocated to this current paramedic
training request.
z
City of Newport Beach NO, BA- 051
BUDGETAMENDMENT
1998 -99 AMOUNT: $no,000.00
-ECT ON BUDGETARY FUND BALANCE:
n increase Revenue Estimates X Increase in Budgetary Fund Balance
Increase Budget Appropriations AND Decrease in Budgetary Fund Balance
Transfer Budget Appropriations No effect on Budgetary Fund Balance
from existing budget appropriations
X from additional estimated revenues
from unappropriated fund balance
EXPLANATION:
This budget amendment is requested to provide for the following:
To increase revenue estimates by $170,000 and appropriate $107,109 of it to send three firefighters to paramedic school.
The cost includes the tuition and overtime costs to fill their vacancies while in training. There have been no prior budget amendments
to training. There has been two Fire Dept, budget amendments to planned overtime totaling $106,096 in FY97/98.
ACCOUNTING ENTRY:
BUDGETARY FUND BALANCE
Fund
Account
Description
010
3605
Fund Balance Control
ENUE APPROPRIATIONS (3601)
Fire - Operations
Fund /Division
Account
Description
2340
5065
Paramedic Service Fee
EXPENDITURE APPROPRIATIONS (3603)
Amount
Debit Credit
$170,000.00
' $62,891.00
Division Number
Account Number
Automatic System Entry.
Signed:
Financial Approval: tnance Direc orcl `' D to
Signed:
Administrative Approval: City Manager Date
Signed:
City Council Approval: City Clerk Date
Description
Division
Number
2320
Fire - Operations
Account
Number
7042
Overtime, Planned $102,73500
Division
Number
2340
Fire - Emergency Medical Service
Account
Number
8105
Training $4,374.00
Division
Number
Account
Number
Division
Number
Account
Number
Division Number
Account Number
Automatic System Entry.
Signed:
Financial Approval: tnance Direc orcl `' D to
Signed:
Administrative Approval: City Manager Date
Signed:
City Council Approval: City Clerk Date