Agenda

Return

C. 72

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Kathy Gallagher, Employment & Human Services Director
Date:	April 25, 2017

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Discharge of General Assistance Accounts Receivable

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 04/25/2017

APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED

OTHER

Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:

John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor

Contact:

Jennifer Posedel 313-1673

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: April 25, 2017
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE discharge from accountability of 1,348 uncollectible General Assistance program accounts receivable totaling $256,577.53 and AUTHORIZE the Director of Employment and Human Services Department to write off the outstanding balances in the department's collection records. A true and correct list of the accounts receivable proposed for discharge is provided as part of this request.

FISCAL IMPACT:

General Assistance program accounts receivable are maintained on an internal subsidiary ledger and do not impact the County financial statements. The accounts receivable recommended for discharge are non-fraudulent debts established between calendar years 1991 and 2012, for which the cost of further collection efforts is found to outweigh the potential collection. Collection costs are 100% County funded and include administrative and personnel costs, legal filing fees, investigative costs, and hearing costs.

BACKGROUND:

The General Assistance program is required by Welfare and Institutions Code 17000 to provide cash assistance to very low-income indigents who do not have children, and who are not eligible for any other Federal or State benefits. An accounts receivable is established in the General Assistance program when a recipient was not entitled to payment because he or she did not meet eligibility requirements. Names and addresses of persons liable for each debt are maintained in EHSD department records.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

If this recommendation is not approved, the collection potential of accounts receivable will be overstated and future administrative costs associated with collection actions will be increased.