HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 06071988 - 1.73 1-07 -a
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Ti0: - BOARD OF SUPERVISORS �y^�{
FROM: JAMES A. RYDINGSWORD, DIRECTOR CC 1`ra
Social Service Department Costa
DATE: May 26, 1988 County
SUBJECT: OPPOSITION TO PROPOSED ELIMINATION OF BOTH THE REFUGEE
DEMONSTRATION PROJECT (RDP) AND THE REFUGEE CASH ASSISTANCE
(RCA) PROGRAM (JUNE 7 OR 14, 1988 BOARD AGENDA)
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION'
RECOMMENDATION•
That the Board of Supervisors join CSAC and CWDA in opposing
the State's proposed elimination of both the Refugee
Demonstration Project and the Refugee Cash Assistance Program;
That the Board of Supervisors join CWDA in opposing the
Federal reductions in funds for Refugee Cash Assistance and
Medical Assistance; and,
Further that the Board of Supervisors authorize the chair to:
1) send letters to our County's Legislative delegation
opposing the State's proposed elimination of both RDP and
RCA, and
2) send letters to our County's Congressional
representatives expressing concern that the Federal
Government a) has inappropriately excused itself from
financial responsibility for Refugee Program costs and b)
should take immediate action to ensure that Refugee
Services Funding is provided to local government to
address the needs of refugees accepted into the United
States under Federal immigration policies.
BACKGROUND:
The State Department of Social Services (SDSS) has announced a
plan to eliminate both the Refugee Demonstration Project
(RDP) , which serves AFDC-eligible refugee families, and the
Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA) program, which provides income
and medical assistance to single adult refugees, effective
June 30, 1988.
This decision results from a Federal reduction in
administrative funds for refugee cash assistance and medical
assistance. RCA and RDP program funds have historically been
used by SDSS to .pay for county General Assistance (GA) costs
for refugees, county AFDC administrative costs for refugees,
and state refugee program administrative costs.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE:
J 4k;-r_e1111 �
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR REC ENDATIO OF BOWRD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S)
ACTION OF BOARD ON June 7 . 198 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT - ) 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 ON THE DATE SHOWN.
CC: County Administrator ATTESTED June 7, 1988
Social Services Phil Batchelor, Clerk of the#oerd of
Supervisors and County Administrator
M3e2/7•63 BY DEPUTY
2
The state's proposal will shift at least $2 .2 million in
refugee program costs to counties in FY 1988-89. The proposal
will also require counties to pay 25% of the administrative
costs for refugee families eligible for AFDC. The potential
cost shift to counties could be significantly higher, however,
if more single adult refugees become eligible for county
General Assistance payments than the state has estimated, or
if the federal government precludes federal reimbursement of
county General Assistance costs.
Recent discussions between CSAC and the Federal Office of
Refugee Resettlement indicate the federal government would
deny federal reimbursement of refugee General Assistance costs
if California eliminates the RCA program. A restriction on
federal General Assistance payments would shift an additional
$14 to $18 million in costs to counties.
FINANCIAL IMPACT ON CONTRA COSTA COUNTY:
For FY 87-88 Contra Costa County's costs for the Refugee Cash
Assistance program will be $327, 609; these costs have been
100% Federally reimbursed. The State's proposed elimination
of RCA will shift this $327,609 into County funded General
Assistance costs.
For FY 87-88 the County's expenditures for the Refugee
Demonstration Project will be $1,039, 982 ; the County funded
portion of RDP will only be $2, 191. The State's proposed
elimination of RDP, and the resulting Federal disallowance of
costs, would result in a potential increase in local County
costs by $1, 037,791.
LA2/rdp.doc