Laserfiche WebLink
October 24, 2023 <br /> <br />23 - 345 - (a) Adoption of an ordinance accepting additional Local Staff and <br />Operations funding in the amount of $131,322 from the Commonwealth of Virginia <br />and appropriating said amount in the FY 2024 Social Services Fund for use by the <br />Department of Social Services for the State-Supported Local Employee Cost of <br />Living Adjustment. <br /> <br />b) Adoption of an ordinance accepting additional Local Staff and Operations <br />funding in the amount of $31,822 from the Commonwealth of Virginia and <br />appropriating said amount in the FY 2024 Social Services Fund for Department of <br />Social Services staffing costs related to assistance with the Percentage of Income <br />Payment Program for customers of Dominion Energy. <br /> <br />Background: <br /> <br /> The FY 2022-2024 Virginia Biennial Budget included a 5% cost of living adjustment <br />(COLA) for FY 2024. <br /> <br /> The General Assembly reconvened for the 2023 Special Session I on September <br />6, 2023 and adopted a FY 2024 budget that was subsequently signed by the Governor <br />th <br />on September 14. The revised final budget allocation includes funding for an additional <br />2% cost of living increase (COLA) for all state-supported local employees, including full- <br />time Department of Social Services employees. <br /> <br /> The General Assembly also mandated that Dominion Energy enact programs to <br />address utility costs for lower income customers. One of the measures instituted by <br />Dominion is the Percentage of Income Payment Program (PIPP), which reduces the bills <br />of lower income customers. <br /> <br />Discussion: <br /> <br /> Through the adopted City budget, DSS staff has already been receiving the 2% <br /> <br />COLA authorized by the 2023 Special Session I since July 8, 2023.The City will not be <br />reimbursed by the state for the 2% COLA paid prior to December 1, 2023. However, the <br /> <br />City will be reimbursed by the state for the 2% COLA from and after December 1. <br /> <br /> In addition, the Commonwealth is providing additional funding for DSS staff costs <br />that will be necessary to administer the PIPP. The PIPP will commence January 2024. <br /> <br />Financial Impact: <br /> <br /> The state-supported local employee cost of living adjustment will increase the DSS <br />budget by $131,322. <br /> <br /> The percentage of income payment program will increase the DSS budget by <br />$31,822. <br /> <br /> A local match in the amount of 15.5% is required as a condition of the funding, <br />which local match has previously been appropriated in the FY 2024 City Budget. <br /> <br />Recommended Action: <br /> <br /> <br /> Adoption of the ordinance. <br /> <br />Next Steps Following Council Action: <br /> <br /> The Finance Department will make the appropriate budget adjustments. <br /> <br />23-345a: <br /> <br />Motion by Mr. Barnes, and seconded by Ms. Lucas-Burke, to adopt the following <br />ordinance, and was adopted by the following vote: <br /> <br />“ORDINANCE ACCEPTING ADDITIONAL LOCAL STAFF AND OPERATIONS <br />FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $131,322 FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OF <br />VIRGINIA AND APPROPRIATING SAID AMOUNT IN THE FY 2024 SOCIAL <br />SERVICES FUND BUDGET FOR USE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES <br />FOR THE STATE-SUPPORTED LOCAL EMPLOYEE COST OF LIVING <br />ADJUSTMENT.” <br /> <br />Ayes: Barnes, Hugel, Lucas-Burke, Moody, Tillage, Whitaker, Glover <br />Nays: None <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />