Public Health explains $97,885 de-obligation from earlier Safe Streets for All grant

Butte County Public Health briefed the Board of Supervisors on March 10 about the closeout of an earlier Safe Streets for All grant and why $97,885 was being de-obligated.

Public Health Director Monica Soderstrom said the contract with the U.S. Department of Transportation funded a safety action plan and included named staff and a scope of work, and therefore the leftover funds must be spent on the safety action plan. “It has to be earmarked for the safety action plan and cannot be transferred to another entity or to other staff,” Soderstrom said.

Jody Putnam, Division Director for Prevention and Health Promotion, explained that the grant started nearly a year late because of federal contracting timelines, the department filled one position at a lower salary step than budgeted, and subcontractor Mark Thomas covered some printing and travel costs included in the original budget. Those factors produced salary and contract savings that left unspent funds.

Supervisor (speaker 5) asked whether unspent funds could be redirected to BCAG or another local entity rather than returned. Soderstrom and Putnam said the contract terms and earmarks restrict how the money can be used, but they welcomed future coordination with BCAG and discussed monitoring for savings during the five-year new grant cycle.

The board approved the closeout action and related consent item on a voice vote.