HomeMy WebLinkAboutORD-2023-011- End of Food and Nutrition Pandemic Emergency Allocations and Unwinding of the Public Health Emergency Declaration and Approval of Budget Amendment #6-A 1
ORD-2023-011
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: February 21, 2023
Action Agenda
Item No. 6-a
SUBJECT: End of Food and Nutrition Pandemic Emergency Allocations and Unwinding of
the Public Health Emergency Declaration and Approval of Budget Amendment
#6-A
DEPARTMENT: Social Services
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
1. Year-to-Date Budget Report Nancy Coston, 919-245-2802
Lindsey Shewmaker, 919-245-2817
PURPOSE: To receive an update regarding the impacts of the Public Health Emergency (PHE)
unwinding and reduction of Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) benefits due to the end of
emergency allocations, and to approve time-limited staff positions and funds to assist recipients
affected by this change through Budget Amendment #6-A.
BACKGROUND: The PHE declaration will officially end on May 11, 2023. This will have several
impacts on clients and the workload of the Department of Social Services (DSS).
Effective March 1, 2023, the emergency allocations provided through Food and Nutrition Services
(FNS) will end. Households that have been receiving extra FNS benefits (called "emergency
allotments") each month since March 2020 or after will see a reduction in benefits because of a
federal change that ends emergency allotments for all states.
As part of the COVID-19 public health emergency, families enrolled in the FNS program in North
Carolina have been receiving at least $95 extra per month since March 2020 through emergency
allotments. With the end of emergency allotments, the average FNS benefit per person per day
will decrease from $8.12 to $5.45.
These emergency allotments have been critical in helping families compensate for financial and
economic hardships due to COVID-19.
Since March 2020, an average of 6,000 Orange County households received FNS emergency
allotments, giving more families access to nutritious meals that support healthy and productive
lives, and bringing approximately $1.3 million federal dollars each month into the local economy.
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Effective March 2023, FNS benefits will go back to regular monthly benefit amounts issued prior
to the pandemic. Beneficiaries will continue to receive regular monthly benefit amounts in March
2023 based on a person's or household's current eligibility, income, household size and other
federal eligibility requirements.
The Department of Social Services anticipates some recipients will not initially understand this
change and may need assistance during the transition. Staff has developed plans for outreach to
the current recipients and to local human service and food providers in the community. Many
families are still struggling to pay for basic needs and the community will need to help with this
change.
The Department proposes to utilize $125,000 of funds from the Social Justice Reserve Fund to
provide emergency food at agency sites and to increase the support to food pantries in the County.
A balance of $12,696 would remain in the Social Justice Reserve Fund with approval of this
allocation.
In addition to the FNS allotment changes, all pre-pandemic rules for eligibility in all program areas
will be reinstated over the next twelve to eighteen months. This includes Medicaid, which will
require the evaluation of approximately 22,000 cases over the next year and a half. The volume
of work for staff will increase significantly as these changes occur.
To manage these tasks and additional work, the department proposes to add three (3) additional
time-limited staff positions and to extend two (2) existing time-limited positions through June 30,
2024. These would be funded with current salary attrition, and would not require additional
funding.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Financial Impacts are included in the background information above.
Approval would authorize the creation of three (3) time-limited FTEs, and authorize the transfer
of$125,000 in Social Justice Reserve funds to the Department of Social Services.
SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goal is applicable to
this item:
• GOAL: ENSURE ECONOMIC SELF-SUFFICIENCY
The creation and preservation of infrastructure, policies, programs and funding necessary
for residents to provide shelter, food, clothing and medical care for themselves and their
dependents.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: There is no known Orange County Environmental Responsibility
Goal impact associated with this item.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve Budget
Amendment #6-A:
1) authorizing three additional time-limited positions in DSS through June 30, 2024;
2) extending two existing time-limited positions in DSS through June 30, 2024; and
3) transfering $125,000 from the Social Justice Reserve Fund to the Department of Social
Services to provide food to Food and Nutrition Services recipients during the transition from
pandemic emergency allocations.
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Year-To-Date Budget Summary
Fiscal Year 2022-23
Fund Budget Summary General Fund
Original Budget Revenue $255,500,691
Interfund Transfer Revenue $76,740
Fund Balance Appropiation $2,608,888
Total Original Budget $258,186,319
Additional Revenue Received Through
Budget Amendment#6 (February 21, 2023)
Grant Funds $2,031,543
Non Grant Funds $306,600
Additional Interfund Transfer Revenue
Additional Fund Balance Appropriation $12,126,566
Total Amended Budget $272,651,028
Dollar Change in 2022-23 Approved Budget $14,464,709
% Change in 2022-23 Approved Budget 5.66%
Authorized Full Time Equivalent Positions
Original Approved Full Time Equivalent Positions (includes
Permanent and Time Limited) 983.505
Changes to Full Time Equivalent Positions 6.700
Amended Approved General Fund Full Time Equivalent
Positions 990.205
Total Approved Full-Time-Equivalent Positions for Fiscal
Year 2022-23 990.205