Title
Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) recommending the Board:
1) Approve the Veterans Affairs Commission recommendation for utilization of the Fiscal Year 2023-24 Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) allocation to the Veterans Affairs Commission;
2) Approve and authorize the HHSA Director, or HHSA Chief Assistant Director, to execute agreements to distribute the Fiscal Year 2023-24 TOT funds as recommended by the Veterans Affairs Commission on July 13, 2023, contingent upon approval of County Counsel and Risk Management; and
3) Authorize the HHSA Director, or HHSA Chief Assistant Director, to execute further documents relating to the agreements, contingent upon County Counsel and Risk Management approval, including amendments that do not increase the maximum dollar amount or term of the agreements.
FUNDING: 100% Transient Occupancy Tax.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
On March 19, 2013, the Board of Supervisors approved a recommendation to establish an annual allocation of TOT funds, beginning with the Fiscal Year (FY) 2013-14 Budget, for the purpose of funding projects, programs, and services that directly benefit the support and recognition of Veterans in the County of El Dorado (File ID 13-0280). On an annual basis, the Board has approved the Veterans Affairs Commission recommendations for the utilization of funding during each subsequent fiscal year. Prior to July 1, 2018, Veteran Affairs (VA) had been administratively supported by the Chief Administrative Office, and funds were distributed according to the Veterans Affairs Commission directly from the General Fund. Effective July 1, 2018, VA transitioned to the HHSA and is included in the department budget in a VA Special Revenue Fund. The annual allocation amount for the support and recognition of Veterans was set at a fixed rate beginning with FY 2020-21 and currently receives an annual allocation of $175,000.
For the FY 2023-24 TOT fund distribution, the Veterans Affairs Commission voted on July 13, 2023 (minutes approved August 10, 2023), to allocate $99,000 to various organizations to provide support to Veterans, with the remaining $76,000 allocated to the El Dorado Community Foundation for $72,200 in mini-grants for Veterans services and $3,800 for a 5% administrative fee. The El Dorado Community Foundation currently has $96,205.44 in funds available with $60,355 paid out in the last year. The $105,000 authorized in FY 2022-23 has not been transferred to the Community Foundation. The current balance, $105,000 from FY 2022-23, and this additional $76,000 in funding will bring their total funding balance to $277,205.44. There is a new round of grant funding open right now that will reduce the amount of funding with Community Foundation.
The Veterans Affairs Commission recommendation for full utilization of the Fiscal Year 2023-24 TOT allocation is as follows:
1) Agreement 8023, El Dorado County Veterans Alliance - $10,000 for costs related to Memorial and Veterans Day events, and maintenance/improvements of the Veterans Monument
2) Agreement 8026, Food Bank of El Dorado County - $10,000 for the No Vet Goes Hungry Program
3) Agreement 8025, Lake Tahoe Community College - $6,000 for books, materials, and resources at campus Veteran Resource Centers, and improvements to the Veteran Resource Center
4) Agreement 8027, Military Family Support Group - $8,000 for outreach and supportive services
5) Agreement 8028, Only Kindness - $15,000 for assistance and supportive services
6) Agreement 8024, Sierra Chaplaincy - $4,000 for chaplains’ visits, officiate at military funerals and grief counseling
7) Agreement 8048, Snowline Hospice - $25,000 for hospice custodial care and medical equipment
8) Agreement 8021, El Dorado Community Foundation - $72,200 for mini-grants and $3,800 for a 5% administration fee.
9) $21,000 for El Dorado County Veterans Service Officer General Trainee
HHSA is bringing this item before the Board to recommend approval of the final FY 2023-24 Veteran Affairs Commission recommendation dated July 13, 2023, and to recommend approval to execute the Funding Out Agreements listed above. The funding decisions of the Veterans Affairs Commission are intended to provide a valuable public service, in that it will help to support, train, and honor Veterans, and to celebrate their contributions to their country and to the people of the County of El Dorado. Should the funds not be expended in the current fiscal year, the funds would roll over to the next fiscal year(s) until they are expended. Following Board approval, HHSA will finalize all Agreements, contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management.
Upon transfer of the FY 2023-24 VA TOT allocation into the special revenue fund, the VA TOT fund balance is estimated to be a total of $390,000, comprising of approximately $39,000 in unallocated funds, approximately $331,000 that has been approved for distribution to community partners for FY 2022-23 and FY 2023-24 in the form of grants to support local veterans, and approximately $20,000 that was approved in a prior year to fund a part time student intern/general trainee position.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should the Board decline to approve and authorize this recommendation, HHSA would be unable to implement the Veterans Affairs Commission Plan as listed herein.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION:
1)13-0280, versions 1 through 7, includes the historical submission of the Veterans
Commission recommendations to use TOT funding beginning August 27, 2013, for FY
2013-14. Thereafter, the Board approved the Veterans Commission recommendation for utilization of funding for FY 2014-15 on January 27, 2015; FY 2015-16 on February 23, 2016; FY 2016-17 on March 21, 2017; FY 2017-18 on December 13, 2018; and FY 2018-19 on June 25, 2019
2) 07/22/14, 14-1016, CAO - Amend. I to Agreement with El Dorado Community Foundation for distribution of TOT funds in support of Veterans Services
3) 09/25/18, 18-1341, HHSA - Funding #3330 El Dorado Community Foundation - VA Mini-Grants
4) 06/25/19, 19-0742, HHSA - Veteran Affairs FY 2018-19 TOT Allotments
5) 11/19/19, 19-1460, HHSA - FY 2019-20 VA TOT Funds Budget Transfer Request
6) 02/25/20, 20-0121, HHSA - Veterans Affairs FY 2019-20 TOT Allotments
7) 05/04/21, 21-0523, HHSA - Veterans Affairs FY 2020-21 TOT Allotment
8) 03/08/22, 22-0200, HHSA - VA TOT FY 2021-22 Allotments
9) 05/24/22, 22-0821, HHSA - VA TOT FY 2021-22 Updated Allocations
10) 06/20/23, 22-2192, HHSA VA TOT Mini-Grants 22/23
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
N/A
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The TOT funding contribution to the Veterans Affairs Commission was approved by the Board as part of the FY 2023-24 Adopted Budget and is included in the HHSA Budget.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS:
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT:
Good Governance
CONTACT
Olivia Byron-Cooper, MPH, Director, Health and Human Services Agency