Title
Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) recommending the Board:
1) Approve the Veterans Affairs Commission recommendation for utilization of the Fiscal Year 2022-23 Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) allocation to the Veterans Affairs Commission;
2) Approve and authorize the HHSA Director, or Assistant Director of Human Services, contingent upon approval of County Counsel and Risk Management, to execute agreements to distribute the Fiscal Year 2022-23 TOT funds as recommended by the Veterans Affairs Commission on October 13, 2022; and
3) Authorize the HHSA Director, or Assistant Director of Human Services, 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 (Legistar Item #13-0280), 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. 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 2022-23 TOT fund distribution, the Veterans Affairs Commission voted on October 13, 2022 (minutes approved November 10, 2022), to allocate $70,000 to various organizations to provide support to Veterans, with the remaining $105,000 allocated to the El Dorado Community Foundation for $99,750 in mini-grants for veterans services and $5,250 for a 5% administrative fee.
The Veterans Affairs Commission recommendation for full utilization of the Fiscal Year 2022-23 TOT allocation is as follows:
1) Agreement 6929, 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 6935, Food Bank of El Dorado County - $5,000 for the No Vet Goes Hungry Program
3) Agreement 6928, 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 6930, Military Family Support Group - $8,000 for outreach and supportive services
5) Agreement 6931, Only Kindness - $12,000 for assistance and supportive services
6) Agreement 6926, Sierra Chaplaincy - $4,000 for chaplains’ visits, officiate at military funerals and grief counseling
7) Agreement 6932, Snowline Hospice - $25,000 for hospice custodial care and medical equipment
8) Agreement 6924, El Dorado Community Foundation - $99,750 for mini-grants and $5,250 for a 5% administration fee.
HHSA is bringing this item before the Board to recommend approval of the final FY 2022-23 Veteran Affairs Commission recommendation dated October 13, 2022, and to recommend approval to execute the funding 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 county 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.
After the full distribution of the FY 2022-23 VA TOT allocation, the anticipated VA TOT fund balances are estimated to be: approximately $45,650 held in reserve by the County for the Veterans Affairs Commission and approximately $259,634 will become available by the El Dorado Community Foundation for the distribution of mini-grants and administrative costs from the FY 2021-22 and FY 2022-23 VA TOT funding cycles.
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
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
N/A
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
This is no change to Net County Cost associated with this item. The TOT funding contribution to the Veterans Affairs Commission was approved by the Board as part of the FY 2022-23 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, Interim Director, Health and Human Services Agency