HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 04141992 - S.3 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ..• Contra
,-�
FROM: Supervisor Nancy C.. Fanden Costa
County
DATE: April 14 , 1992
SUBJ_CT: Direct that a letter be Prepared for the Signature of the Chair,
Board of supervisors Requesting that the Cities in the County
Support Legislation Modifying the General Assistance Pro-gram.
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Direct that a letter be prepared for the Chairman of the Board' s
Signature requesting that all cities in the . County join with
Contra Costa and Alameda Counties in efforts to pass State
legislation modifying the conditions of, • or eliminating the
requirement for , General Assistance grants and the program.
FINANCIAL IMPACT :
If successful , the proposed legislation could relieve the
County of the obligation to fund up to $20. million
in General Assistance grants .
BACKGROUND:
Contra Costa County faces a $5 .0 million.. shortfall in the Social
Services Department alone this coming fiscal year. Of that amount ,
$2 .9 million is due to General Assistance caseload increases and
higher payments set by legal decisions .
Current adult GA costs for FY 91/92 are estimated at $17,863, 500.
Since FY 87/88, aid costs have increased from $7 , 565 , 500, or
$10, 298,000 over the five-year period. This is a 136% increase .
Next year, if GA were to go uncontrolled, estimates are that the
total cost would be $20,886, 750, which is an increase of $3,023, 250
or 16 .9%. Case loads for FY88/89 were 2, 764 per month, are
estimated at 5 ,493 per month for FY 91/92 and are projected to
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: __2LYES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD C MMI
of
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S):
ACTION OF BOARD ON 775= APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED__9L5- OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
1 HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
UNANIMOUS(ABSENT S AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS
''ON THE DATE SHOWN.
CC. County Administrator ATTESTED 11/Lt�1 Z
Social S er V:L.C.e s PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
Sup ervi s-or Tandesi SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
BY ,DEPUTY
M382 (10/88)
reach a high of 6,274 per month for FY 92/93 .
Below is a table indicating the growth in General Assistance : :
FY ANNUAL AMOUNT INCREASES CASES/MO
87/88 $ 7; 565;000 2 , 764
88/89 9 , 122 , 573 $1 , 557, 073 3,461
89/90 11 , 588, 340 2 ,465 , 767 4 ,151
90/91 14 , 118, 385 2 , 530 ,045 4 , 810
91/92 17 ,863, 500 3 , 745 ,112 5 ,493
92/93 20 ,886, 750* 3 ,023, 250 6 , 274*
If unabated. Social Services is applying programs to reduce
costs to $16, 250,000.
While the Social Services Department is diligently working to
contain current and projected costs , the fact remains that
spiraling General Assistance Costs deflect needed monies away
from programs for children, families , and :the elderly.
Obviously, if the County is spending this much money on State-
mandated General Assistance, there is much to be lost by the
cities as well . Less money is available for the Sheriff,
repairs of County roads , environmental review, and so forth.
It is in the interests of the cities to support the County' s
efforts to reduce or eliminate mandated General Assistance.
Monies could be freed up for other social services programs
or for the provision of urban services in areas that adjoin
incoporated cities .
Contra Costa County and its cities should speak with one voice
on the out-of-control State-mandated General Assistance program.
Unanimous support of the Board' s position on General Assistance
will be a powerful tool in obtaning passage .of the needed
legislation.
-2-