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Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) recommending the Board:
1) Approve the Veterans Affairs Commission recommendation for the utilization of the Fiscal Year 2024-25 Discretionary Transient Occupancy Tax (DTOT) allocation to the Veterans Affairs Commission;
2) Approve and authorize the HHSA Director, or HHSA Chief Assistant Director, to execute funding out agreements to distribute the Fiscal Year 2024-25 DTOT funds as recommended by the Veterans Affairs Commission on November 14, 2024, 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% DTOT.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
On March 19, 2013, the Board of Supervisors approved a recommendation to establish an annual allocation of DTOT 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 (Legistar file 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 2024-25 DTOT fund distribution, the Veterans Affairs Commission voted on November 14, 2024 (minutes approved December 12, 2024), to allocate $78,000 of the FY 2024-25 DTOT fund to various organizations to provide support to Veterans, as well as $37,197 to fund a 0.50 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) Office Assistant position for El Dorado County Veteran Services, with the remaining $59,803 allocated to the El Dorado Community Foundation for $56,812.85 in mini-grants for services for Veterans and $2,990.15 for a 5% administrative fee. The El Dorado Community Foundation received $105,000 from the FY 2022-23 DTOT fund and $76,000 from FY 2023-24 DTOT fund this year. Their current DTOT funding balance is $212,087.59, minus mini grants to community-based organizations that they have administered this year and administrative costs.
The Veterans Affairs Commission recommendation for full utilization of the Fiscal Year 2024-25 DTOT allocation is as follows:
1) Agreement 9227, El Dorado County Veterans Alliance - $10,000 for costs associated with coordinating and conducting Memorial Day and Veterans Day events at the Veterans Monument.
2) Agreement 9231, Food Bank of El Dorado County - $10,000 for the No Vet Goes Hungry Program.
3) Agreement 9223, 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 9146, Military Family Support Group - $8,000 for outreach and supportive services. The Board approved Military Family Support Group to receive $8,000 of the FY 2023-24 DTOT funds on October 17, 2023 (Legistar file 23-1651). However, the agreement was never executed, therefore the allocated 2023-24 funds will be included as a part of the FY 2024-25 agreement for a total of $16,000.
5) Agreement 9229, Only Kindness - $15,000 for assistance and supportive services.
6) Agreement 9228, Sierra Chaplaincy - $4,000 for chaplains’ visits, officiating at military funerals and grief counseling.
7) Agreement 9224, Snowline Health - $25,000 for hospice custodial care and medical equipment.
8) Agreement 9232, El Dorado Community Foundation - $56,812.85 for mini-grants and $2,990.15 for a 5% administration fee.
9) $37,197 for the 0.50 FTE El Dorado County Veteran Services Office Assistant position.
HHSA is bringing this item before the Board to recommend approval of the final FY 2024-25 Veteran Affairs Commission recommendation dated November 14, 2024, 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 funding out agreements, contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management.
Upon transfer of the FY 2024-25 VA DTOT allocation into the Special Revenue Fund, the VA DTOT fund balance is estimated to be a total of $287,000, comprising of approximately $31,000 in unallocated funds, approximately $197,000 that has been approved for distribution to community partners for FY 2023-24 and FY 2024-25 in the form of grants to support local Veterans, and $59,000 that was approved to support the 0.50 FTE Veteran Services Office Assistant 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
11) 10/17/2023, 23-1651, HHSA VA TOT Mini-Grants FY 23/24
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Veterans Affairs Commission
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The DTOT funding contribution to the Veterans Affairs Commission was approved by the Board as part of the FY 2024-25 Adopted Budget and is included in the HHSA Budget.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS:
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT:
N/A
CONTACT:
Olivia Byron-Cooper, MPH, Director, Health and Human Services Agency