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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 10161984 - F.2 TO, BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Contra FROM: Finance Committee Costa( DATE: October 15, 1984 t, SUBJECT: Report on Allocation of Family and Children's Services Fund Monies SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATION: Refer report and recommendations of Family and Children's Trust Fund Committee to the County Administrator and direct that office to meet with said Committee for further consideration of the allocation of Fund monies; in connection therewith direct the County Administrator and Social Services Director to review the current system of advisory committees on the use of various funds for family and children's services and provide a recommendation for the consolidation thereof. BACKGROUND: The Family and Children's Trust Fund Committee was established by the March 26, 1984 request of the Board of Supervisors to form such a panel to make recommendations for the allocation of funds from the Family and Children's Services Trust Fund. Committee members are: Name Representation Sheila Hill United Way Allocation Team Bill Groth Children's Coalition Mac Stanley Human Services Advisory Commission Ken Jaffe County Justice System Subvention Program Advisory Group Meda Read Children's Trust Fund Committee for Allocation of AB 1733 Funds The Committee met three times (May 23, June 13, and July 9, 1984) to discuss and examine various possibilities for use of the fund. The Committee felt a lack of clear and precise direction regarding the possible uses of the Fund. For example, it.was not clear either from the notice sent to the taxpayers soliciting funds , or from the directive to form the Committee, if the funds were restricted to agencies serving families with minor children or were also available to those serving adults only. It was decided that the funds were to be directed to families with minor children. Committee members felt quite positive about this unique method of raising revenue for Contra Costa County's community-based nonprofit agencies. It was also felt that with more advanced planning there would be increased participation by the taxpayers. However, members did express concern that interest derived from this account is being absorbed into the County General Fund and, therefore, lost from exclusive use by the Trust. V CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: X YES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMI T RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE X APPROVE OTHE SIGNATURE($) R. I. Schro S. W. McPeak ACTION OFBOARD ON OC ober 16, 1984 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED x OTHER x This matter to remain on referral in the Finance Committee. VOTE OF SUPERVISORS X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT I ) I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AYES: NOES: AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN ABSENT: ABSTAIN: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OON�THE DATE SHOWN. � CC: County Administrator ATTESTED �J� ✓ 16 Welfare Director Phil Batheler,Clerk of the Board of Family & Children's Trust Fund CteSupervisors and County Administrator Finance Committee L� DEPUTY�iA M382/7-03 BY -2- Because of the limited time frame in which to assess options, as well as the size of the Fund, Committee members unanimously agreed to the following recommendations: 1. Allocation of $15,000 to be distributed in equal amounts ($1 ,000) to each of the identified organizations in the notice sent to the taxpayers: Crisis and Suicide Intervention Services Phoenix Programs Contra Costa Children's Council Friends Outside Battered Women's Alternatives Rape Crisis Center/East Sherman House/Children's Home Society Rape Crisis Center/Central Center for Human Development Rape Crisis Center/West Child Abuse Prevention Council Families United Community Food Coalition Bay Area Crisis Nursery Family Stress Center 2. Transfer of the Fund from the current account to a separate investment account yielding the highest possible interest in order to maximize monies available to finance Family and Children's Trust Fund programs. 3. Continuation of the Committee in order to: a. Consider expansion of the Committee b. Develop next year's flyer . c. Develop criteria for use of the Fund Having heard the Committee's recommendations, the Social Service Director opposed the allocation method as being unduly cumbersome. Negotiating, monitoring, and auditing 15 contracts in the proposed amount seems neither cost effective nor an efficient use of the funds. Furthermore, at least one organization on the list did not desire these funds. In its March 29, 1984 report, the Finance Committee requested that the funds be targeted to at least three major areas to maximize public benefit. After further discussion, it was determined that these funds should be allocated so that their use would be clearly visible to the donors who voluntarily provided the funds. In the amount of money currently in the Fund, the administrative costs of maintaining a separate investment account might affect any interest which would accrue to that account. Furthermore, since the funds are being solicited through the mailings and administered by the County with public funds, there is some question as to whether these monies can be treated differently from other funds. This matter will continue to be reviewed. There are currently three sources of funds to provide for services to families and children. They are: (1 ) AB 1733 Funds - legislation enacted last year and renewed for FY 1984-85 provide State funds for child abuse prevention. (2) AB 2994 Funds - The Children' s Trust Fund was established from sur- charges on copies of birth certificates collected and disbursed in the County to nonprofit agencies in child abuse prevention. (3) Family & Children' s Services Fund - Established by the Board of Supervisors, this fund is solely from voluntary contributions , solicited from property taxpayers. Each fund is disbursed by the Board on the recommendation of a select committee of experts in child abuse. The Social Service Director recommends that there be coordination among these committees .to consider all such funds in making their allocation recommendations to the Board of Supervisors. Having considered this discussion, the above recommendations are made. 0 01 �.