30 / 260
16
It is also interesting to note that most of the agencies surveyed participate in the California
Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS). Only three of the 21 agencies surveyed utilized
a municipal pension system; these three must make a significantly higher employer contribution
then those utilizing CALPERS. Also notable were the number of days and hours worked in a year
by CAL FIRE employees as compared to those surveyed. CAL FIRE employees work 165 days
annually, as compared to the 125 days worked, on average, in surveyed jurisdictions. In terms of
actual hours, CAL FIRE employees work nearly 25 percent more hours than those of their
surveyed counterparts. Table 3-5 shows the days and hours worked in surveyed jurisdictions and
by CAL FIRE. In summary, however, the personnel costs for CAL FIRE are significantly less than
those of California jurisdictions in the 2014 survey.
TABLE 3-5: Hours and Days Worked Annually by Fire Department
Fire Department
Hours
Annually
Days
Annually
Bakersfield
2920.00
122
Chula Vista
3128.57
130
Corona
2920.00
122
Escondido
3128.57
130
Fullerton
2911.92
121
Heyward
2920.00
122
Livermore-Pleasanton
2920.00
122
Los Angeles Co.
2920.00
122
Milpitas
3128.57
130
Novato
2920.00
122
Ontario
3128.57
130
Oxnard
2920.00
122
Rialto
3128.57
130
Roseville
3128.57
130
San Bernardino (City of)
2920.00
122
San Mateo (City of)
2920.00
122
Santa Monica
3128.57
130
Stockton
2920.00
122
Torrance
2920.00
122
Ventura Co.
3128.57
130
Local Average
3007.39
125
State Firefighters (CAL FIRE)
3744.00
156
Budgetary Costs
As indicated above, both the City of Morgan Hill and the South Santa Clara County Fire District
contract with CAL FIRE for all fire and EMS services in their respective jurisdictions. Neither the City
nor the District employ any fire personnel and all services, including the administrative support
functions, are provided under contract by CAL FIRE. These arrangements are governed through
cooperative fire protection agreements between the state of California and Morgan Hill and
Santa Clara County. CAL FIRE utilizes a
Direct Cost Budgeting Proces
s for both the City and the
District. In this methodology, actual costs are reimbursed to CAL FIRE for its services. CAL FIRE
provides a five-year budget projection, but actual costs are funded by the respective agency.
In most instances, CAL FIRE costs are lower than budget projections. In addition, the City and
District receive an EMS reimbursements for call activity and response time compliance. Each
agency can then use these revenues to offset their budgetary costs. In FY 2015-16 the budget