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MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES March 19, 2012 2 2. Budget Nancy Coston presented an overview of the proposed Social Services budget for FY2012-13. There is an increase of approximately $400,000 in the overall budget due to revenue cuts. Significant revenue cuts are adversely impacting the budget. There are a few increases in the budget, but lost revenue for staff costs had the greatest impact. There is still hope that TANF funds will be reinstated and IV-E revenue will increase, but cuts to these funding sources are included. There are few changes to personnel in the budget, although several time-limited positions are eliminated due to ending grant funding. Ms. Coston pointed out that staff members are responsible for over $110 million dollars in benefits for federal programs that are not reflected in the budget. Errors can result in county pay back of these federal funds. Ms. Coston explained several program changes that had budget impacts, including changes in the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP). There is an increase in both the expenditure and revenue line items for this program because checks are now sent from the county to the energy vendor instead of from the state to the client. In child and family services, there is a reduction in TANF funding that is currently used to pay for child welfare staff. This comes through the Work First Block Grant and is reduced because the TANF Supplemental Grant that North Carolina receives was left out of the federal budget continuing resolution. This cut to Orange County was $330,000 and would result in the loss of an entire unit of child welfare staff if taken. These staff members are responsible for working with families to protect children at risk of abuse and neglect. More wards are coming to the agency through the changes in guardianship. This will result in increased staff and legal time. Some of these cases require intense time and resources. Medicaid transportation is requiring more staff time and will provide less funding. The Community Alternatives Program (CAP) is also likely to lose funding. The administrative funding for child care subsidy has been reduced from 4 to 3%, resulting in lost revenue. Albert Williams asked for more information about the CAP program and adult care homes. Ms. Coston responded that there are several ways the agency is involved in adult care homes. One of the most sensitive is adult care home monitoring in which staff members investigate issues in adult care homes. The program that is at risk involves providing additional services to enhance the care of adults placed in homes. The state may cut funds for adolescent parenting programs, although these funds are currently included in the budget. Funds for Food and Nutrition Employment and Training are included in the budget but the two associated positions will remain vacant until funding is received. Child care subsidy funds are likely to be reduced next year so a waiting list is likely to emerge. While some funds might remain at the end of this fiscal year, the agency is concerned about having to remove children from subsidy once these funds are reduced. The budget includes funds the county allocates to repay dollars used to subsidize child care for county employees. Only one third of the child care funding is allocated due to the projected implementation of SEEK, the electronic