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8 <br /> <br />is explained by demand, much is related to rising housing costs. In previous years, a greater <br />percentage of funds was spent on utilities but now a greater percentage is spent on rents, <br />deposits and related costs. <br /> <br />From July through January of the current fiscal year, DSS has made $120,919 worth of rent <br />payments on behalf of 325 households as compared to $94,812 during all of the previous <br />year. In addition to rent, the County has also spent $93,546 on electric bills and $19,680 on <br />water bills thus far this fiscal year. <br /> <br />DSS has also assisted with some extremely difficult situations this year and those cases have <br />been more costly. Often these included serious safety issues for a child, a senior or a person <br />with a disability. Extreme weather also contributed to higher needs as DSS tried to assure that <br />all families were safe during the recent cold temperatures. <br />Based on current spending trends, DSS will need approximately $125,000 in additional funds <br />to meet the need for the remainder of the fiscal year and is requesting this amount from the <br />existing Social Justice Fund. <br /> <br />Nancy Coston, Department of Social Services (DSS) Director, said this year DSS has <br />had a dif ficult time staying within its budget, due to demands for emergencies, with rising <br />housing costs being a large issue. She said DSS is requesting the use social justice funds to <br />offset some of these emergency costs. <br />Commissioner Jacobs referred to the revised information on the blue sheet in the <br />Commissioners’ packet, and said this has been a long-standing commitment of Orange <br />County. He said this type of need is the intended purpose of the social justice fund. <br />Nancy Coston said DSS always seeks to use federal funds first, but sometimes those <br />funds do not cover the needs. <br />Chair Dorosin asked if this as more of an anomalous situation, or if this is a trend of <br />higher level of expenses. <br />Nancy Coston said it is both, and there have truly been some extenuating situations <br />this year. She said expenses vary from year to year, but she does not anticipate these costs <br />going down. <br /> <br />A motion was made by Commissioner Price, seconded by Commissioner Burroughs to <br />approve the allocation of $125,000 from the Social Justice Fund to the Department of Social <br />Services to address the continuing need for emergency assistance. <br /> <br />VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> <br />b. Framework for the First Annual Orange County Local Festival <br />The Board considered voting to establish a financial and programming framework for <br />Orange County’s First Annual Local Festival. <br /> <br />BACKGROUND: <br />The FY2017-18 Budget authorized up to $15,000 in Article 46 sales tax proceeds to begin <br />planning for an Orange County Local Fest. The County conducted a request for proposal <br />process and retained Evan Hatch as the Event Planner. Mr. Hatch has fifteen years of <br />experience in folk arts and cultural programming, which includes experience in event planning <br />and festival production. Mr. Hatch has been working with a group of Orange County <br />departments to create a financial and programming framework for Local Fest.