The Dixie Fire, which began on July 13, 2021, near Pulga, California, has left Plumas County grappling with recovery efforts after it destroyed communities and burned nearly a million acres. Despite the involvement of county officials and volunteer groups, the county has not had a dedicated disaster recovery coordinator.
The Plumas County Board of Supervisors is considering approving a new disaster recovery coordinator position to manage local recovery projects. The proposed role would be a full-time position with a base wage of $35 an hour, serving as an assistant to the county administrative officer or the board. Tracey Ferguson, the Plumas County Planning Director, presented this proposal, stating that the position has been necessary for some time, as she has been handling disaster recovery coordination alongside her planning duties since August 2023.
The cost of the position, including salary and benefits, is estimated at $440,919 over three years, ending June 30, 2028. Funding for this role is proposed to come from a $10.9 million settlement received from Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E), which admitted responsibility for the fire. The county’s unrestricted share of the settlement is $7.8 million, with minimal use of these funds to date.
The supervisors have yet to establish a policy on spending priorities for the settlement funds. Plumas County Auditor-Controller Martee Graham noted that to fund the coordinator position, the supervisors must approve an appropriation from the PG&E settlement and transfer funds to the CAO’s budget. Supervisor Mimi Hall suggested the supervisors express their intent to allocate these funds for the coordinator role, although further discussion was halted for straying beyond the meeting’s agenda.
The board plans to take action on March 18 to potentially approve the job classification, salary, and recruitment for the position. The role is intended to last three years and would be discontinued if the settlement funds are depleted.
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