Program B: Arson Enforcement

Return to the main page | Previous document | Next document

Program B: Arson Enforcement

Program Authorization: R.S. 40, Chapter 7, Part 3

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The mission of the Arson Enforcement Program is to protect life and property from the hazards of fire or explosion; to ensure the safety of the state's citizens within the constructed environment; provide equal access to disabled individuals; and promote the efficient use of energy in buildings.

The goal of the Arson Enforcement Program is to deter the crime of arson.

The Arson Program deters arson through prevention, investigation and apprehension of suspected arsonist. The agency also assists in the training of fire departments in the cause and origin of fire. In addition, the Arson Program licenses, regulates, and inspects over 800 retail firework stands twice a year and approximately 150 mobile home dealer lots twice a year.

OBJECTIVES AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

1. In FY 1998-99, the Arson Enforcement Program will respond to and investigate all requests by fire, police, and insurance companies of reported incendiary and suspicious fires not covered by a recognized fire protection bureau.

1 The dollar value of property destroyed in these suspicious/incendiary fires was $28,198,160 in FY 1996-97 and is estimated to be over $36.5 million in FY 1997-98 and FY 1998-99.

2 The Arson Enforcement Program runs totals by calendar year since the National Fire Reports are maintained on a calendar year basis.

3 The amount of additional duties and additional fires requiring investigation will reduce the percentage of arrests and convictions due to the lack of man-hours available to conduct follow-up investigations. The agency notes that this percentage can be improved with additional manpower.


OFFICE OF FIRE MARSHAL ARRESTS AND CONVICTIONS
	FY 1990-91	FY 1991-92	FY 1992-93	FY 1993-94	FY 1994-95	FY 1995-96	FY 1996-97
Number of Arson Investigations	624	660	659	626	586	703	722
Number of Arson Arrests	109	140	141	135	140	149	158
Percentage of Investigations Resulting in Arrests	17%	21%	21%	22%	24%	21%	21%
Number of Arson Convictions	33	57	79	82	75	72	68
Percentage of Investigations Resulting in Convictions	5%	8%	12%	13%	13%	10%	10%

RESOURCE ALLOCATION FOR THE PROGRAM

SOURCE OF FUNDING

This program is funded with statutory dedications from the Louisiana Fire Marshal Fund. (Per R.S. 39:32B.(8), see table below for a listing of expenditures out of each statutory dedicated fund.)

ANALYSIS OF RECOMMENDATION

GENERAL FUND	TOTAL	T.O.	DESCRIPTION

$0	$917,843	21	ACT 18 FISCAL YEAR 1997-1998

			BA-7 TRANSACTIONS:
$0	$325,000	0	Carryforward for arson van
$0	$10,692	0	Realign expenditures for uniform cleaning allowance from Inspection and Licensing Program

$0	$1,253,535	21	EXISTING OPERATING BUDGET - December 10, 1997

$0	($325,000)	0	Non-Recurring Carryforward for arson van
$0	($30,137)	0	Equipment/Major Repairs Adjustment(s)
$0	$24,148	0	Annualization of 1997 -'98 Merit Pay Adjustments
$0	$13,323	0	1998 -'99 Merit Pay Adjustments
$0	($28,794)	0	Attrition Adjustment(s)
$0	($1,417)	0	Retirement Rate Adjustment(s)
$0	($8,001)	0	Reductions in various Expenditure Categories; Including Reductions to fully fund Salaries
$0	$47,142	0	Overtime funding

$0	$944,799	21	TOTAL RECOMMENDED

$0	($308,736)	0	DIFFERENCE (TOTAL RECOMMENDED AND EXISTING OPERATING BUDGET)

The total means of financing for this program is recommended at 75.3% of the existing operating budget. It represents 77.0% of the total request ($1,226,944) for this program. The reduced funding is primarily due to the removal of non-recurring carryforwards and non-recurring acquisitions and major repairs.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

This program does not have funding for Professional Services for Fiscal Year 1998-1999

OTHER CHARGES

$10,692		Uniform maintenance

$10,692		TOTAL OTHER CHARGES

		Interagency Transfers:
$40,203		Transferred to State Police for automotive maintenance
$18,388		Transferred to Management and Finance for utilities and telephones
$2,581		Civil Service/Comprehensive Public Training Program charge for pro rata share of expenses

$61,172		TOTAL INTERAGENCY TRANSFERS

ACQUISITIONS AND MAJOR REPAIRS

$42,000		Three replacement vehicles

$42,000		TOTAL ACQUISITIONS AND MAJOR REPAIRS

Return to the main page | Previous document | Next document