Title
Health and Human Services Agency recommending the Board:
1) Approve the Veteran Affairs Commission recommendation for utilization of the Fiscal Year 2019-20 Transient Occupancy Tax;
2) Approve and authorize the Purchasing Agent, or designee, to execute the eight (8) Funding Agreements identified by the Veteran Affairs Commission, to distribute the Fiscal Year 2019-20 Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) funds as recommended by the Veteran Affairs Commission; and
3) Authorize the Health and Human Services Agency Director, or designee, to execute further documents relating to the Funding Agreements, including amendments that do not increase the maximum dollar amount or term of the agreement, and contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management.
FUNDING: 100% Transient Occupancy Tax / General Fund.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
On March 19, 2013, the Board of Supervisors approved a recommendation to establish an annual allocation beginning with the Fiscal Year (FY) 2013-14 budget in an amount equal to five percent (5%) of the Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) Revenue collected pursuant to County Ordinance Code Section 3.28.030, 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 #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 fiscal year (FY) 2014-15 on January 27, 2015; FY 2015-16 on February 23, 2016; FY 2016-17 on March 21, 2017; FY17-18 on December 13, 2018, and FY 18-19 on June 25, 2019.
The Veterans Affairs Commission voted on December 12, 2019 (minutes approved January 09, 2020) to allocate the FY 2019-20 TOT funds in the amount of $265,739; $116,000 to various organizations to provide support to Veterans as below enumerated, $130,739 to support the Veterans Mini-Grant Program, and $19,000 toward an Extra-Help Intern position. The Veterans Mini-Grant program will be administered by the El Dorado Community Foundation to provide grants to local veteran service offices or non-profit veteran service organizations to support their missions. Applications for funding are evaluated by the Veterans Affairs Commission. As the fiscal administrator of the Mini-Grant program, El Dorado Community Foundation will collect a management fee of $6,539.95, or 5% of $130,739.
Prior to July 1, 2018, Veteran Affairs (VA) had been administratively supported by the CAO, and funds were distributed according to the Veteran Affairs Commission Plan directly from the General Fund. Effective July 1, 2018, VA transitioned to the Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) and is included in the recommended and approved department budget VA Special Revenue Fund.
The funding will 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.
If these funds are not expended in the fiscal year, the funds should roll over to the next fiscal year(s) until they are expended.
The programs that are recommended for FY 2019-2020 by the Veterans Affairs Commission are the following:
1) El Dorado Community Foundation - $130,739
Veterans Mini-Grant Program funding is to provide grants to local veteran service offices or non-profit veteran service organizations to support their missions.
2) Friends of the Veterans Monument - $10,000
Funding is to cover upkeep of the El Dorado County Veterans Monument and costs related to the Memorial and Veterans Day events.
3) Lake Tahoe Community College District - $18,000
Funding is to be provided to South Lake Tahoe Community College to provide books and resources at each campus Veteran Resource Center.
4) Los Rios College Foundation - $40,000
a. Veteran Resource Center - $5,000
Funding is to provide books and resources at each campus Veteran Resource Center.
b. Veteran Education Transition Resource Center Program - $35,000
Funding is to provide assistance for veterans transitioning out of the military to locate information on, understand, and obtain the resources and benefits they are entitled to, particularly their education benefits. Funding may also be provided for the purchase of books and materials necessary for veterans attending classes.
5) Military Family Support Group - $8,000
Funding is to Military Family Support Group and Outreach and Supportive Services to help meet the needs of veterans and/or their families in El Dorado County. These needs may include special projects, short term financial help, PTSD awareness events and community outreach.
6) Only Kindness Inc. - $12,000
Funding is to provide supportive services and assistance to veterans, especially homeless veterans who do not meet the eligibility criteria of other funding.
7) Sierra Chaplaincy - $3,000
Funding is to provide chaplains visits to veterans in the hospital, palliative care, transitional care center, and in their homes. Sierra Chaplaincy may officiate at military funerals and provide grief counseling to surviving family members.
8) Snowline Hospice of El Dorado County - $25,000
Funding is to provide veterans with hospice custodial care and medical equipment through Snowline Hospice.
Following Board approval, HHSA-Contracts Unit will finalize the above agreements, contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management, and submit to Purchasing Agent for final execution.
El Dorado County Department of Veteran Affairs Student Intern - $19,000
Funding is to provide El Dorado County Department of Veterans Affairs a student intern, so he/she can receive training to help veterans obtain benefits. This will be budgeted as part of the FY 2020-21 Recommended Budget.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should the Board decline to approve and authorize this recommendation, HHSA would be unable to implement the VA Commission Plan as listed herein above.
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) 07/17/14, 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.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
N/A
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board approve this item.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with this Agenda item. These Funding Agreements are funded by the TOT collected in FY 2018-19, and allocated to the Veteran's Commission through budget action earlier in this fiscal year. Sufficient appropriations are included in the FY 2019-20 Budget.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT:
County Strategic Plan: Good Governance
CONTACT
Don Semon, Director, Health and Human Services Agency