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Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) recommending the Board:
1) Approve the County Veteran Affairs Commission’s (VAC) recommendation for the utilization of the Fiscal Year 2025-26 General Fund Contribution to the VAC;
2) Approve and authorize the HHSA Director or Chief Assistant Director to execute seven funding out agreements to distribute the Fiscal Year 2025-26 funds as recommended by the VAC on September 11, 2025, contingent upon approval of County Counsel and Risk Management; and
3) Authorize the HHSA Director or Chief Assistant Director to execute further documents relating to these agreements, contingent upon County Counsel and Risk Management approval, as applicable, including amendments that do not increase the maximum dollar amount or term of the agreements.
FUNDING: 100% VAC General Fund Contribution.
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DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
On March 19, 2013, the Board approved a recommendation to establish an annual allocation of Discretionary Transient Occupancy Tax (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 El Dorado County (Legistar file 13-0280). On an annual basis, the Board has approved the VAC 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 VAC directly from the General Fund. Effective July 1, 2018, VA transitioned to HHSA and DTOT funding 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.
As directed by the Board on February 11, 2025, FY 2025-26 DTOT is budgeted in the County General Fund (Legistar file 25-0236). The annual allocation of $175,000 is included in the FY 2025-26 County Budget as General Fund Contribution to VAC. On September 11, 2025, the VAC voted (minutes approved October 9, 2025) on the FY 2025-26 $175,0000 fund distribution, and intends to allocate $78,000 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, $76,000 from the FY 2023-24 DTOT fund, and $59,803 from the FY 2024-25.
The VAC recommendation for full utilization of the Fiscal Year 2025-26 allocation is as follows:
1) Agreement 9901, Food Bank of El Dorado County - $18,000 for the No Vet Goes Hungry Program.
2) Agreement 9902, Lake Tahoe Community College - $6,000 for books, materials, and resources at campus Veteran Resource Centers, and improvements to the Veteran Resource Center.
3) Agreement 9903, Military Family Support Group - $15,000 for outreach and supportive services.
4) Agreement 9904, El Dorado Community Foundation - $56,812.85 for mini-grants and $2,990.15 for a 5% administration fee.
5) Agreement 9905, El Dorado County Veterans Alliance - $10,000 for costs associated with coordinating and conducting Memorial Day and Veterans Day events at the Veterans Monument.
6) Only Kindness - $15,000 for assistance and supportive services, which has subsequently been declined (reallocating these funds as mentioned below).
7) Agreement 9915, Sierra Chaplaincy - $4,000 for chaplains’ visits, officiating at military funerals and grief counseling.
8) Agreement 9915, Snowline Health - $25,000 for hospice custodial care and medical equipment.
9) $37,197 for the 0.50 FTE El Dorado County Veteran Services Office Assistant position.
On January 31, 2026, Only Kindness notified HHSA that they will be declining the FY 2025-26 allocation of $15,000 as the organization plans to close within the year. HHSA informed the VA TOT Subcommittee of this on February 2, 2026, and the subcommittee discussed the reallocation of funds to present to the VAC for approval on February 12, 2026. The VAC met and approved to split the Only Kindness $15,000 allocation between Military Family Support Group and Food Bank of El Dorado County; Military Family Support Group will be receiving an additional $7,000 for a new total allocation of $15,000 and Food Bank of El Dorado County will be receiving an additional $8,000 for a new total allocation of $18,000.
HHSA is bringing this item before the Board to recommend approval of the final FY 2025-26 VAC recommendation dated September 11, 2025, and February 12, 2026, and to recommend approval to execute the Funding Out Agreements listed above. The funding decisions of the VAC 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 El Dorado County. 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 2025-26 allocation into the Special Revenue Fund, the funding available is estimated to be a total of $260,919 composed of approximately $41,419 in unallocated funds, approximately $137,800 for distribution to community partners for FY 2025-26 in the form of grants to support local Veterans, and $81,700 of prior year unspent allocation to support the 0.50 FTE Veteran Services Office Assistant position. The El Dorado Community Foundation’s Veterans TOT Grant Expendable Fund had $187,577.12 in funding available for allocation at the end of calendar year 2025. The El Dorado Community Foundation and Veterans Affairs Commission are currently working together to develop a spend down plan for the use of this funding to support local Veterans.
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) 03/19/13, 13-0280, CAO Agreement with El Dorado Community Foundation for distribution of TOT funds in support of Veterans Services
2) 06/20/23, 22-2192, HHSA VA TOT Mini-Grants 22/23
3) 10/17/2023, 23-1651, HHSA VA TOT Annual Grants FY 23/24
4) 03/11/2025, 24-1826, HHSA VA DTOT Annual Grant FY 24/25
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Veterans Affairs Commission
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The funding contribution to the Veterans Affairs Commission was approved by the Board as part of the FY 2025-26 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