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5 <br /> •Assist the county in determining related nonprofit funding allocations to eliminate <br /> redundancy and increase program effectiveness for targeted populations. <br /> 8. Streamline any agency or county procedure that affects issuance of emergency or ongoing <br /> benefits for clients. <br /> 9. Find additional interviewing space at Whitted and Southern Human Services until new <br /> building is available. <br /> 10. Work with Food Bank on possibility of onsite food distribution. <br /> Chair Foushee made reference to reassigning people and said that several County <br /> Commissioners have gotten calls from people who are concerned that there is a threat of <br /> service reduction, specifically Veteran Services. <br /> Nancy Coston said that her proposal is not to cut this out but to see if the Veterans <br /> Services Officer could help with some of the public assistance on veterans. She said that she is <br /> going to ask for a new position to help with the 500 additional cases by May 1St. She said that <br /> DSS is slower because of the increased caseload. <br /> 4. Plan Discussion <br /> Nancy Coston asked for feedback from the Board of County Commissioners. <br /> Commissioner Pelissier asked for more information on the budget and how much of an <br /> increase is expected. She said that at the County Commissioners' retreat they said that the <br /> social services safety net is the most crucial priority, but she cannot calculate what it means to <br /> the operating budget. <br /> Nancy Coston said that the Social Services Board has to review the budget first, by law. <br /> She said that she is trying to take the department cuts that have been requested by the <br /> Manager. She said that she will not be able absorb the $300,000 for emergency assistance in <br /> her budget and she is not sure what to do. She said that one of the problems is with the <br /> administration costs. DSS gets 50% back from the state/federal funds, so a $30,000 cut would <br /> only result in a $15,000 cut for the County. <br /> Commissioner Pelissier said that she does not see DSS making the same level of cuts <br /> that other departments make. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said that he would like to see an attempt of the DSS Board to tell <br /> the County Commissioners the priority items for funding in case hard choices need to be made. <br /> He said that Congressman Price wants anecdotal recommendations from the local level and <br /> Nancy Coston said that she could send something in writing. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs asked for an update on Hillsborough Commons and Nancy <br /> Coston said they should be moving in July or August. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs asked about the library and Laura Blackmon said that it is about <br /> the same timeframe, July or August. Commissioner Jacobs suggested waiting a few months to <br /> move out to save some money. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said that the County Commissioners have heard several times <br /> from one non-profit that wants to be in this building with DSS and Nancy Coston said that there <br /> is a meeting set. Chair Foushee said that staff is working on a response to the letter. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said that the County subsidizes the Urgent Home Repair Program <br /> with money that used to come out of the Critical Needs Reserve. If the energy efficient money <br /> could be used to help people make houses weather proof, then some money could be saved <br /> from the Urgent Home Repair Fund. <br /> 5 <br />