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Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) recommending the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign a Fiscal Year 2021-22 Budget Transfer Request increasing operating transfers in the amount of $750,000 to the HHSA Behavioral Health Division from the American Rescue Plan Act Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. (4/5 vote required).
FUNDING: 100% American Rescue Plan Act Coronavirus State and Local Recovery Funds.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed into law the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which allocated $1.9 trillion to assist in the recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, of which El Dorado County received a direct allocation of $37.46 million.
On November 9, 2021, the Board approved the allocation of $7,264,000 in ARPA Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) funding to the Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) Behavioral Health Division based upon a recommendation from HHSA and the Chief Administrative Office (File ID: 21-1680). This allocation was approved to be utilized as bridge funding to cover costs associated with Psychiatric Health Facility (PHF) administrative days and Institute for Mental Disease (IMD) placements which have been impacted due to COVID facility closures and reduced capacity for placements, statewide. The funding was also approved for use in improving the Behavioral Health continuum of care. HHSA will provide the Board with an update on the plans for improving the Behavioral Health continuum of care by August 15, 2022.
On April 5, 2022, the Board approved a budget transfer of ARPA SLFRF funds to the HHSA Behavioral Health Division in the amount of $3,000,000 (File ID: 22-0567), which represented the initial estimate of the costs of PHF administrative days and IMD placements. This current request for an additional $750,000 in FY 2021-22 ARPA SLFRF is due to a revised estimate of the increase in costs of the associated behavioral health services.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should the Board decline to approve and authorize this Budget Transfer Request, it would prevent the transfer of ARPA SLFRF funds to the HHSA Behavioral Health Division, which would require the increased use of limited 1991 Mental Health Realignment funding to cover the costs.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION:
1) 11/09/21, 21-1680, CAO - Board allocated ARPA funds to the HHSA Behavioral Health Division in the amount of $7,264,000.
2) 04/05/22, 22-0567, CAO - Board approval of FY 2021-22 budget transfer to HHSA Behavioral Health Division in the amount of $3,000,000 for the initial estimated cost of increased behavioral health services to vulnerable El Dorado County residents.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
N/A
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
This budget transfer will conserve limited Realignment funding and has no impact on the County General Fund. The additional funding is within the Board-approved allocation of ARPA SLFRF for Behavioral Health.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
The Clerk of the Board will obtain the Chair’s signature on the Budget Transfer Request form and forward it to the Chief Administrative Office for processing.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT:
Healthy Communities
CONTACT
Daniel Del Monte, Interim Director, Health and Human Services Agency