HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 08041992 - IO.5 " e/ Ili - -TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS 1 .0.-5
,. Contra
FROM:. INTERNAL OPERATIONS COMMITTEE
s Costa
County
DATE: July 27, 1992
s'q coiiv`Zi
SUBJECT: FEASIBILITY OF IMPLEMENTING A SENIOR TAX WORK-OFF PROGRAM IN
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
SPECIFIC REOUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATION:
1 . Request the Senior Tax Work-Of f Program Committee to work with
the Executive Director of the Private Industry Council to
determine the feasibility of utilizing funds from the Senior
Worker Training Program to administer a senior tax work-off
program in Costa Costa County
2 . Direct the Senior Tax Work-Off Program Committee to report
back to the Internal Operations Committee on October 12, 1992
regarding whether funding has been located to operate the
Senior Tax Work-Off Program and, if so, to respond to the
questions which were raised on January 6,1992 .
3 . Approve in concept the model Senior Tax Work-Off Program as
implemented in Riverside County and request the Internal
Operations Committee to report back to the Board of
Supervisors on possible implementation of this model program
in Contra Costa County providing the Senior Tax Work-Off
Program Committee is able to locate an acceptable source of
funding for the program.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: X YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNT D ATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE O
SIGNATURE(S):
ACTION OF BOARD ON August 4 , 1992 . APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER.
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
'/ I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
V UNANIMOUS(ABSENT ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS O��NTHE DATE SHOWN.
CC: Please see Page 2 . ATTESTED AU"jj 4 - 1992
PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
M382 (10/88) BY DEPUTY
I .O.-5
BACKGROUND:
On January 14 , 1992, the Board of Supervisors asked the Senior Tax
Work-Off Program Committee to review in detail the Colorado Senior
Tax Work-Off Program, to evaluate it in terms of similarities and
differences with California' s current situation and provide our
Committee with a report and recommendation regarding the
feasibility of implementing a similar program in this County. The
Board of Supervisors also requested the Senior Tax Work-Off
Committee to review and provide answers to several questions/issues
which were raised at the January 6, 1992 meeting of the Internal
Operations Committee.
Our Committee met with several representatives of senior citizens
groups, interested individuals, the Advisory Committee on Aging and
Public Employees Union, Local 1 on July 27, 1992 . Our Committee
was advised that the Senior Tax Work-Off Program Committee had
reviewed the Colorado Senior Tax Work-Off Program and agreed that,
with some modifications, it can be implemented in Contra Costa
County. However, it was also the consensus of the Senior Tax Work-
Off Program Committee that the cost of operating such a program in
Contra Costa County should be reviewed and addressed before all of
the questions raised in January are answered.
It was agreed that the program would require one full-time person
to administer it and that the program should be located in a
central office or department. The cost of one staff person is
estimated to be about $50,000 . The Senior Tax Work-Off Program
Committee felt that the funding required for the program should be
secured before recommending the implementation of the program.
As a result, the Senior Tax Work-Off Program Committee is working
with staff of the Private Industry Council to identify a funding
source in conjunction with the Private Industry Council ' s Senior
Worker Training Program under Title II of the Joint Training
Partnership Act.
Most of those with whom our Committee met on July 27, 1992
indicated their general support for the implementation of the
proposed program. There were comments opposing implementation of
the program and noting the difficulty of having senior volunteers
replace laid off County employees who have specific education and
skills which are not easy to replace with volunteers . There was
also concern expressed that this proposed program simply pointed to
the fact that property taxes are too highly and should be reduced.
It is clear that before our Committee will recommend implementation
of the program all of the questions raised in January will have to
be answered, including an evaluation of the financial impact on the
County, both positive and negative. Finally, it was again noted
that the impact of this program on existing volunteer programs and
their ability to recruit and retain volunteers would have to be
carefully examined before our Committee will be prepared to
recommend implementation of the program.
cc: County Administrator
Kenneth J. Corcoran, Auditor-Controller
Alfred P. Lomeli, Treasurer-Tax Collector
Perfecto Villarreal, Social Services Director
Art Miner, Executive Director, Private Industry Council
Harry Cisterman, Personnel Director.
Victor J. Westman, County Counsel
Sondra Rothwell, Management Analyst G ,4o
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