Orange County NC Website
20 <br /> 1 Commissioner Richards asked what basis is used to determine full participation. She <br /> 2 asked how the increase in participation will be factored into each scenario. <br /> 3 Nancy Freeman said they have provided complete liability if they have 100% <br /> 4 participation in these cases. She said in the earlier ones, Corey Root, had figured 50% <br /> 5 participation but that is an estimate because they do not know how many participants they will <br /> 6 have with the increased community outreach efforts. <br /> 7 Commissioner Richards asked how much participation was there as percentage of <br /> 8 eligible households. <br /> 9 Travis Myren said it was 1% in the previous year. <br /> 10 Commissioner Richards asked how the county gets from 1% to 100%. <br /> 11 Travis Myren said that is the challenge here. He said that what Bonnie Hammersley was <br /> 12 describing is setting it up like the small business grant program. He said that would allow for an <br /> 13 application window and applicants would be reviewed by the priorities the board has <br /> 14 established. He said staff would then prioritize applications based on Board approved criteria. <br /> 15 He said they would grant what is available for the prioritized applications. He said that the safest <br /> 16 route, and to make sure that the liability stays within the allotted amount, is to prioritize based <br /> 17 on need and come back to Board. He said this is the recommendation rather than first come, <br /> 18 first serve, which may not help the intended audience. <br /> 19 Commissioner Fowler asked if staff met with representatives from Justice United and the <br /> 20 Jackson Center and if they suggested having a window and then if it goes over, then everyone <br /> 21 gets adjusted down to the available amount. She asked if that is something that could be done. <br /> 22 Travis Myren said yes. He said that staff could come back at a future business meeting <br /> 23 to allow the Board to establish the priorities. <br /> 24 Commissioner Fowler asked if there is information on how other counties' participation <br /> 25 increased based on marketing methods. <br /> 26 Nancy Freeman said she does not but that she was told it took about three years to get <br /> 27 to a solid base. <br /> 28 Commissioner Fowler clarified that they did not tell Nancy Freeman what the percentage <br /> 29 increase was and asked if they used the inserts. <br /> 30 Nancy Freeman said she did not have that information but that she assumed they would <br /> 31 use the inserts based on how the county offices work. She said that she can try to find this <br /> 32 information and report back. <br /> 33 Commissioner Fowler asked if staff could come back with a calculation for the cost to do <br /> 34 $300, $600 and $900 for those three groups <br /> 35 Commissioner McKee asked for clarification on the income ranges are for the program. <br /> 36 Travis Myren directed Commissioner McKee to slide #12 with the income information. <br /> 37 Commissioner Fowler asked if it was based on a family of four. <br /> 38 Travis Myren said they are not asking how many people are in the home. He said that he <br /> 39 will have additional information because as he thinks about it more, they may adjust based on <br /> 40 family size but that he is unable to recall at this time. <br /> 41 Commissioner Bedford said she had the handout and they breakdown from 1 to 8 in the <br /> 42 households. <br /> 43 Chair Price asked if they use the window application option if they will adjust the <br /> 44 allocations based on the total amount available to make sure that everyone gets some relief. <br /> 45 Travis Myren said that would be an option the Board could consider. He said that it <br /> 46 could be that everyone gets something, or it could be prioritized for those with the greatest <br /> 47 need. <br /> 48 Chair Price said that people that do not reach the threshold would still be in need. <br /> 49 Travis Myren said yes, but that they could prioritize the need based on tax burden or <br /> 50 another means to calculate need. <br />