Agenda

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C. 71

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Joe Valentine, Employment & Human Services Director
Date:	January 12, 2010

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Service Integration Program, Bay Point Works Volunteer Income Tax Assistance

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 01/12/2010

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Gayle B. Uilkema, District II Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III Supervisor
Susan A. Bonilla, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

Paul Buddenhagen, 313-1793

I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: January 12, 2010
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Employment and Human Services Director, or designee, on behalf of the Service Integration Program (SIT), to apply for and accept grant funding from United Way of the Bay Area in an amount not to exceed $15,000 to support SIT Bay Point Works Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) activities. (No County match)

FISCAL IMPACT:

$15,000 County to receive grant funding from United Way of the Bay Area for the Service Integration Program Bay Point Works Volunteer Tax Assistance activities. No County match.

BACKGROUND:

Bay Point Works will again participate as a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site and provide free tax preparation services to low income East County residents. The VITA program is designed to provide tax preparation for low to moderate income residents who qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

The Contra Costa County Service Integration Program/Bay Point Works began piloting free tax preparations seven years ago. The pilot was so successful that the following year it was expanded, and transformed into a partnership, the Family Economic Security Partnership. The partnership is comprised of several County departments, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), community based organizations, and hundreds of volunteers serving all of Contra Costa County.

For the 2009 tax season SIT's Bay Point Works' staff prepared and filed 428 tax returns, more than any other site in the County, saving low income community residents more than $43,000 in filing fees while helping put more than $700,000 in federal tax refunds back in the pockets of working poor Bay Point residents. Significantly, $246,797 in Earned Income Tax Credit and $167,989 in Child Tax Credits were returned to families for whom Bay Point Works staff prepared and filed taxes. EITC is the single most effective government program in lifting people out of poverty.

The $15,000 in grant funds from United Way of the Bay Area will allow Bay Point Works to expand the tax preparation services and increase filings for 2010.

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

RECOMMENDATION(S):

FISCAL IMPACT:

BACKGROUND:

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT: