AGENDA #11e

BUDGET WORKING PAPER

TO:                  W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

FROM:            Gregg Jarvies, Chief of Police

SUBJECT:       Human Services Advisory Board Funding

DATE:             April 27, 2005

The purpose of this memorandum is to provide information regarding the Citizen Budget Review Committee’s recommendation that the Human Services Advisory Board review applications from several additional outside agencies supported by the Town.

Last year, the Town Council allocated $206,000 for human service agencies. The funds were distributed among 41 agencies. This year the Human Services Advisory Board has received funding requests from 44 human service agencies totaling $321,825 for FY 2005-2006. The Board is currently holding hearings to give these agencies the opportunity to present their funding requests.

As we understand it, the Citizens Budget Review Committee is recommending that the following agencies submit funding applications to the Human Services Advisory Board: the Chapel Hill Carrboro ArtsCenter, the Orange Community Housing and Land Trust, the Interfaith Council, the Joint Orange-Chatham Community Action Agency, the Friends of the Chapel Hill Senior Center, and the Orange County Retired Senior Volunteer Program. Performance agreements with these agencies totaled $167,000 last year. Last year, each of these agencies was funded directly by the Council without review by the Human Services Advisory Board.  Two of the agencies, the ArtsCenter and the Interfaith Council, have submitted applications to the Human Services Advisory Board this year. In fiscal year 2004-2005, the Interfaith Council received an allocation of $5,500 from the human services budget in addition to the $30,000 in support received directly from the Council.

The Human Services Advisory Board is charged with the specific task of identifying and advising the Council on human service needs and funding. The agencies listed in the recommendation are not all human service providers by definition and do not relate to the mission of the Board. Should the Council choose to accept the Committee’s recommendation, consideration of which agencies meet the definition of human service providers would be necessary. Also, if the Committee’s recommendation is adopted we believe that funding for these additional agencies should be transferred to the auspices of the Human Services Advisory Board.

This matter is a policy decision that should be made by the Council.  IF the Council wishes to refer all Human Services Agency funding requests to the Human Services Advisory Board, adoption of the attached resolution would do so.

A RESOLUTION REFERRING ALL HUMAN SERVICE AGENCIES SEEKING TOWN SUPPORT TO THE HUMAN SERVICES ADVISORY BOARD FOR REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION FOR FUNDING (2005-04-27/R-1.2)

WHEREAS, the Citizens Budget Review Committee recommends the Human Services Advisory Board review all requests for human service funding for the Council; and

WHEREAS, it is in the interest of the Town of Chapel Hill to provide a consistent process for human service agencies seeking Town support;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Council hereby authorizes the Human Services Advisory Board to review applications from all human service agencies and formulate recommendations for the Council.