REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
October 20, 2026
FROM
JANKI PATEL, Acting Director, Department of Public Health
SUBJECT
Title
Purchase of an Unbudgeted Capital Asset Chevrolet Silverado Electric Vehicle
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Authorize the purchase of one 2027 Chevrolet Silverado Electric Vehicle truck as an unbudgeted capital asset, for use by the Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Services Vector Control Program, in an amount not to exceed $75,000.
2. Authorize the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector to post the necessary budget adjustments to the Department of Public Health’s 2026-27 budget, as detailed in the Financial Impact section (Four votes required).
(Presenter: Janki Patel, Acting Director, 387-9146)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Improve County Government Operations.
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The purchase of one 2027 Chevrolet Silverado Electric Vehicle (EV) truck as an unbudgeted capital asset, in an amount not to exceed $75,000, will be funded by Environmental Health Services (EHS) fee revenue.
The Department of Public Health (DPH) requests the Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector post the following adjustments to DPH’s 2026-27 budget:
|
Fund Center |
Commitment Item/GL |
Description |
Action |
Amount |
|
9300001000 |
54504050 |
Vehicles |
Increase |
$75,000 |
|
9300001000 |
52002445 |
Other Professional and Specialized Services |
Decrease |
$75,000 |
The requested purchase was not included in DPH’s 2026-27 adopted budget. Due to the requirement that the EV be purchased during calendar year 2026, the purchase cannot be incorporated through the County’s mid-year budget process, which will not be completed until 2027. Board of Supervisors (Board) approval of the unbudgeted capital asset and related budget adjustments is therefore necessary to complete the purchase within the required timeframe.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
DPH’s EHS Division administers the County’s Vector Control Program to protect public health through the surveillance, prevention, and control of vectors capable of transmitting diseases. Vector Control staff routinely conduct field surveillance and response activities throughout the County, including in remote, undeveloped, and off-road locations. These activities require staff to transport surveillance equipment and other supplies across varied terrain and into areas that may not be readily accessible by standard passenger vehicles.
The proposed 2027 Chevrolet Silverado EV truck will provide EHS with a vehicle capable of supporting these field operations while expanding DPH’s zero-emission vehicle fleet. The truck will primarily be utilized for vector surveillance and related field activities, including accessing remote locations where enhanced vehicle capability, durability, cargo capacity, and ground clearance are necessary to safely and effectively conduct surveillance and control activities.
For 2025-26, DPH was allocated $300,000 grant funding through the Homeland Security Grant Program to support the purchase of the Recreational Vehicle (RV)-style vehicle in June 2026. The RV-style vehicle will support the Animal Care Division during animal evacuations and emergency response activities. The RV-style vehicle will provide additional operational capacity during emergencies, including transportation, temporary care, and support of animals. Because the emergency response vehicle is not a zero-emission vehicle, its acquisition creates an associated requirement under applicable California Air Resources Board (CARB) regulations for the County to offset the purchase through the acquisition of a qualifying EV.
To satisfy this requirement, DPH must complete the purchase of the offsetting EV during the same calendar year as the non-zero-emission emergency response vehicle. Accordingly, the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado EV must be purchased by December 31, 2026, to maintain compliance with applicable CARB requirements.
The timing of this requirement does not align with the County’s regular budget cycle. DPH’s 2026-27 budget was developed prior to identification of the need for this offsetting vehicle, and the County’s mid-year budget adjustments will not be processed until calendar year 2027. Waiting for the mid-year budget process would prevent DPH from completing the required EV purchase within calendar year 2026. Therefore, DPH is requesting Board approval to purchase the Chevrolet Silverado EV truck as an unbudgeted capital asset outside of the regular budget adjustment process.
The selection of an EV truck also provides an operational benefit to DPH beyond satisfying the regulatory requirement. The vehicle will be assigned to the EHS Vector Control Program, where its capabilities are well suited for surveillance activities requiring travel to rural and remote areas, transportation of field equipment, and operation over unimproved terrain. Approval of this purchase will allow DPH to meet applicable State vehicle requirements while providing EHS with a vehicle that directly supports its responsibility to protect County residents from vector-borne disease.
County Policy 11-04 requires Board approval for purchases of unbudgeted capital assets with a cost of $50,000 or greater. Approval of the recommendations will authorize DPH to purchase the vehicle within the required calendar year and provide the necessary budget authority for the unbudgeted capital asset.
PROCUREMENT
The 2027 Chevrolet Silverado EV truck will be procured in accordance with the procedures established by County Policy 11-04 (Procurement of Goods, Supplies, Equipment and Services).
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Adam Ebright, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on September 23, 2026; Auditor-Controller/Treasurer/Tax Collector (Charlene Huang, Auditor-Controller Manager, 387-7022) on September 24, 2026; Fleet Management (Mark McCullough, Director, 387-7870) on October 5, 2026; Purchasing (Ariel Gill, Supervising Buyer, 382-2070) on September 24, 2026; County Finance and Administration (Guy Martinez, Principal Administrative Analyst, 387-5428) on October 1, 2026.