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Chair McKee said over the next year there must be a plan to address the issue of <br /> affordable housing with the Towns and to work with CHT and other organizations to address <br /> this problem. He said the need for affordable housing in Orange County may not be as great <br /> as some other areas, but there is still a need. <br /> Commissioner Rich said Allan Leigh who had been Chair of the CHT is leaving. She <br /> said that Allan had guided them through this agreement, and she sends well wishes to him <br /> from the Board. <br /> c. Child Care Budget Planning Information <br /> The Board discussed funding needs and possible strategies for meeting the need for <br /> child care subsidy for Orange County families. <br /> Nancy Coston, Social Services Director, said this item was to be discussed in March <br /> but was canceled due to inclement weather but she wanted to update them on some possible <br /> scenarios. She reviewed the following background information: <br /> BACKGROUND: The Orange County Department of Social Services (DSS) has offered <br /> subsidized child care to all children placed on the waitlist prior to January 1, 2015, as directed <br /> by the Orange County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) using funds in the Social <br /> Services current fiscal year budget, state reallocations and funds made available by the <br /> BOCC. <br /> A new waiting list was started on January 1, 2015. Staff was asked to come back to the BOCC <br /> and present funding proposals for different child care subsidy scenarios for FY 2015-16. <br /> Although some scenarios were developed for the March 5, 2015 work session that was <br /> canceled due to inclement weather (see attached), additional trend analysis has now been <br /> included in the information being presented. The original cost estimate for Fiscal Year 2014- <br /> 2015 was based on an expectation of 820 children per month receiving subsidy. Due to some <br /> of the changes implemented for part time care and due to the time needed to enroll new <br /> children, the expenses for this year will be below the $5,023,956 and 820 children originally <br /> anticipated. The new estimate for children served during this fiscal year will be 724 per month <br /> and currently 807 are receiving subsidy. <br /> Although the original estimate for state child care revenue was $3.4 million, DSS has actually <br /> received $4.4 million after several reallocations. With these changes, the agency anticipates <br /> approximately $150,000 in county funds remaining in the child care fund on June 30, 2015. All <br /> estimates in this abstract also include the cost to continue serving the children impacted by the <br /> change in income eligibility and family composition implemented by the North Carolina General <br /> Assembly last year (school age children below 133% of the Federal Poverty Level and children <br /> living with relatives other than parents). <br /> Given that the children who have been served from the waitlist will continue to be served next <br /> year, the cost for next year is estimated at $4,342,500 assuming average attrition and taking <br /> no new children from the waitlist. Since the state estimate has again been reduced to $3.4 <br /> million, the budget approved by the Social Services Board and submitted to the County <br /> Manager includes an increase of$639,000 in County dollars to cover the cost of currently <br /> enrolled children. This estimate does not allow for clearing the current waitlist or serving <br /> children as attrition occurs. These funds, if appropriated, would serve an average of 724 <br /> children per <br /> month. There are currently 115 children on the waiting list and the agency estimates that 100 <br /> children would receive services if the waiting list was cleared through June 30, 2015. The <br />