Title
a. Approve and authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services, or his designee, to sign and execute Standard Agreement #15F-2406 to the California Department of Community Services and Development, on behalf of the County, for $60,000 for the Drought Water Assistance Program for the period April 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015; and
b. Approve and authorize the Auditor-Controller to amend the FY 2014-15 Adopted Budget Unit 008-5010-SOC007-8257 to increase estimated revenues and appropriations by $200,000.
(4/5th vote required)
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve and authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services, or his designee, to sign and execute Standard Agreement #15F-2406 to the California Department of Community Services and Development, on behalf of the County, for $60,000 for the Drought Water Assistance Program for the period April 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015; and
b. Approve and authorize the Auditor-Controller to amend the FY 2014-15 Adopted Budget Unit 008-5010-SOC007-8257 to increase estimated revenues and appropriations by $200,000
(4/5th vote required)
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The Drought Water Assistance Program (DWAP) grant for April 2015 through December 2015 is a fully-funded State grant that makes available assistance to drought-impacted, low-income households with their residential water utility bill to prevent disruption in vital water services, and to promote water conservation. State determined there is an ongoing need for residential water bill payment assistance and is providing additional funds to the pilot project counties. The agreement attached is recommended for approval and authorization to execute the contract.
Additionally, on July 29, 2014, the Department of Social Services (DSS) indicated through Board Report #14-817 that once all agreements were received from the California Department of Community Services and Development (CSD), DSS would return to your Board for an increase in appropriations and revenues. The agreement for the Drought Water Assistance Program (DWAP), which is anticipated to be the final CSD agreement for the fiscal year, was received on March 20, 2015.
In addition, since CSD grants operate on a calendar-year basis spending against contracts spans fiscal years and DSS needs to adjust appropriations to account for variances from spending patterns that were estimated during the budget development process.
The requested $200,000 increase in appropriations and revenues is for the following reasons:
· $110,534 is for funding from calendar year 2014 grants that spent more than initially estimated during the last half of the 2014 grant period (July-December 2014);
· $59,466 is for the 2014 Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program grant that your Board authorized on July 29, 2014 (Board Report #14-817);
· $30,000 is for 6 months of the new $60,000 DWAP agreement which is estimated to be spent in FY 2014/15. The remainder of the grant is estimated to roll into FY 2015/16.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel has approved the DWAP agreement to form.
FINANCING:
The increase in appropriations and revenues for Fund 008, SOC007 for Fiscal Year 2014-15 in the amount of $200,000 is funded 100% by CSD. Approval of this action has no impact on County General Fund contributions.
Prepared by: Becky Cromer, Finance Manager II, x4404
Approved by: Elliott Robinson, Director, x4434
Attachments: State of California Agreement 15F-2406
Original on file with Clerk of the Board