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Health and Human Services Agency recommending the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign the attached Budget Transfer to:
1) Increase State Revenue by $297,030 due to one-time funding augmentation through Families First Coronavirus Response Act (H.S.6201) of $158,136, and additional increased funding augmentation for the expansion of Senior Nutrition services of $138,894, to fund increased staffing and operating costs; and
2) Transfer County General Fund between senior programs with a net zero impact to County General Fund by decreasing the General Fund Contribution in the Area Agencies on Aging program by $40,000 due to projected savings, and increasing the General Fund Contribution in the Senior Day Services program by $40,000 to offset increased General Fund costs incurred while The Club is closed.
FUNDING: State funding through California Department of Aging and County General Fund.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) recommending the Board approve the Chair to sign a Budget Transfer Request (BTR) to increase revenue and appropriations for FY 2019-20 by $297,030. This $297,030 is comprised of:
A) One-time funding augmentation from Families First Coronavirus Response Act (H.R. 6201) of $158,136. These funds are available for expenditure until September 30, 2021; the state match requirements have been waived: and
B) One-time funding augmentation in the Senior Nutrition funding of $138,894. The state match requirements are met within the current budget with county general fund and in-kind match with volunteers’ hours.
The Senior Nutrition Funding increase will be used to supplement and not supplant the program and will be used for temporarily increased staffing to prepare and deliver meals, food and supply costs.
Due to the COVID-19 crisis, the congregate meal settings have closed. This has resulted in an increase in Senior Nutrition preparing meals for seniors, both via drive-through pick-up and delivery. Additionally, the stay at home order resulted in fewer volunteers being available to deliver meals; this is being augmented with Senior Day staff who have been re-purposed for Senior Nutrition meals.
In addition to the increase in funding of $297,030, there is an estimated $40,000 shortage in Fees for Service revenues due to the temporary closure of the Senior Day Services at The Club.
Although The Club is closed to client services, staff are either being paid primarily by using leave balances, or have been re-purposed to support the increase in home-delivered meals for AAA Senior Nutrition.
This will result in an estimated increased General Fund requirement of $40,000 for The Club. However, there is sufficient General Fund savings in the AAA program; therefore, it is requested to transfer $40,000 in anticipated savings from AAA to The Club to cover ongoing unfunded costs. HHSA has taken steps to mitigate costs to The Club by redirecting staff to other programs in need of additional help due to the outbreak.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should the Board decline to authorize this Budget Transfer, the capacity to provide Senior Nutrition Services would remain at the current level, and the funding allocation would not be available for the benefit of the Senior Nutrition recipients. In addition, the Senior Day Services Program will have insufficient funding to cover expenses in the current fiscal year.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION:
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
N/A
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board approve this item.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no General Fund increase associated with this Agenda item. All funding is one-time California Department on Aging augmentations for the expansion of the Senior Nutrition Program and in response to the COVID-19 crisis.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) Obtain signature of Chair on the attached Budget Transfer Request; and
2) Submit the BTR to the CAO office for further processing.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT:
N/A
CONTACT
Don Semon, Director, Health and Human Services Agency