Agenda

Return

D. 6

To:	Board of Supervisors
From:	Melinda Self, Child Support Services Director
Date:	July 14, 2020

Contra

Costa

County

Subject:

Department of Child Support Services Staffing Impacts of Revenue Reduction

APPROVE	OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR	RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE

Action of Board On: 07/14/2020

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:

Sarah Bunnell, 925-313-4433

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: July 14, 2020
David Twa,

BY:	, Deputy

RECOMMENDATION(S):

Adopt Resolution No. 2020/161 to delete sixteen (16) positions in the Department of Child Support Services due to reduced state funding, and initiate the layoff process effective July 31, 2020.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Due to a $2.6 million reduction in the FY 2020/21 State allocation to the Department of Child Support Services and other reduced revenue, the department must reduce costs by $2.6 million. After reducing eligible non-personnel costs, the department has $1.87 million in cuts remaining, which will be achieved through the elimination of sixteen positions.

BACKGROUND:

BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)

Due to the global pandemic and the loss of revenue throughout the country, the Department of Child of Support Services received an amended allocation letter from the State of California reducing the 2020-2021 fiscal year budget by $2.6 million from the initial allocation letter. The department reduced costs from services and supplies; however, in order to meet the budget, personnel costs had to be reduced as well. Due to the large reduction, eliminating positions listed in Attachment A is necessary.

On May 14, 2020, the Governor announced his revisions to the administration’s January Proposed FY 2020-21 State Budget. As a result of the global health crisis that triggered a global financial crisis, the May Revise included a series of changes to the proposed budget to fund the most essential public health, safety and education. Many of the cuts proposed would be taken prior to a possible federal aid bill for states and local governments. Included in the May Revise to the Proposed 2020-21 State Budget is an assumption that the funding of local child support agencies will revert to 2018 funding levels. This proposal would result in statewide savings of $38.2 million in 2020-21. Contra Costa County’s share of that state funding is $2.25 million. This May revise proposal would not take effect on July 1 if the federal government provides sufficient funding to restore them.

An offer to meet and confer regarding the impact of the position reductions was sent to our labor organizations on June 3, 2020.

On June 3, 2020, the Assembly and Senate came to an agreement on a State Budget for 2020-21. Following the June 3 agreement, legislative leaders began discussions with the Governor. A significant feature of the Legislative Branch budget agreement is to make any cuts on October 1 if sufficient federal assistance is not received by September 1. However, the Floor Report from the Assembly Budget Committee notes that the Legislative Branch budget agreement rejects the reversion of local child support agency funding to 2018 levels and maintains funding as proposed in the Governor’s January Proposed 2020-21 Budget regardless of future federal assistance to state and local governments.

The Governor signed a budget that will reduce the allocation for the Contra Costa County Department of Child Support Services by $2.6 million. Therefore, the recommendation is to make these cuts effective as of July 31, 2020. The Human Resources Department has activated the Tactical Employment Team Program (TETP) to mitigate the negative impact that anticipated layoffs may have.

CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

If not approved for implementation on July 1, 2020, the delay will require the department to eliminate more positions to achieve the required savings over a shorter period of time.