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Department of Natural Resources Fire Suppression Study. Proposed Final Report Joint Legislative Audit & Review Committee June 22, 2005 John Woolley and Lisa Jeremiah. JLARC Study Mandate. 2004 Supplemental Operating Budget directed JLARC to: Review compliance with statute
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Department of Natural Resources Fire Suppression Study Proposed Final Report Joint Legislative Audit & Review Committee June 22, 2005 John Woolley and Lisa Jeremiah
JLARC Study Mandate • 2004 Supplemental Operating Budget directed JLARC to: • Review compliance with statute • Examine factors contributing to recent costs • State Auditor’s Office: review controls to ensure that only appropriate costs are charged to the suppression budget JLARC study of DNR's Fire Suppression
Report Summary and Focus • Some statutory compliance issues • No single factor contributing to growing expenditures • Policymakers can expect that when more acres burn, expenditures will go up • DNR’s data systems are poorly set up to answer basic questions about expenditures JLARC study of DNR's Fire Suppression
90% of Fires DNR Fights Not on DNR Managed Land A total of 21,175 fires from 1980 through 2001 JLARC study of DNR's Fire Suppression
Growing Number of Acres Burned on DNR Protected Land Ten-Year Trend JLARC study of DNR's Fire Suppression
Suppression Expenditures Are Growing (Controlled for Inflation) Ten-Year Trend JLARC study of DNR's Fire Suppression
Report’s Eight Recommendations Focus on Improved Information for Decision Makers
Improve Fire Information and Cost Comparisons Rec. 1: DNR’s published statistics should include its efforts on all fires, not just fires on DNR-protected lands. (DNR concurs) Rec. 2: As required by statute, DNR should prepare an annual unit cost analysis. (DNR concurs) Rec. 3: DNR should prepare a plan for adapting its financial systems to include number of units used and unit costs. (DNR concurs) JLARC study of DNR's Fire Suppression
Improve Financial and Budget Information Rec. 4: DNR should review its method for developing budget requests.(DNR partially concurs) Rec. 5: The Legislature should consider reviewing fire suppression and pre-suppression budgets together.(DNR partially concurs) Rec. 6: DNR should report to the Legislature on its efforts to standardize agreements with local fire districts.(DNR concurs) JLARC study of DNR's Fire Suppression
Improve Specific Information on Helicopters Rec. 7: DNR should include helicopter expenses in the pre-suppression budget. (DNR partially concurs) Rec. 8: DNR should hire a consultant to develop an accurate rate for the helicopter program. (DNR concurs) JLARC study of DNR's Fire Suppression