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2004-06-14 Budget Work Session NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERSBOOK 30 BUDGET WORK SESSION, JUNE 14, 2004PAGE 63 ASSEMBLY The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners met for a Budget Work Session on Monday, June 14, 2004, at 9:20 a.m. in the Assembly Room of the New Hanover County Courthouse, 24 North Third Street, Wilmington, North Carolina. Members present were: Chairman Robert G. Greer; Vice-Chairman Julia Boseman; Commissioner William A. Caster; Commissioner Ted Davis, Jr.; Commissioner Nancy H. Pritchett; County Manager, Allen O’Neal; County Attorney, Wanda M. Copley; and Clerk to the Board, Sheila L. Schult. Others present were: Budget Director Cam Griffin; Senior Budget Analyst Norma Troutman; Budget Analyst Donna Seal; Assistant County Manager Dave Weaver; and Public Information Officer Mark Boyer. Chairman Greer called the meeting to order and requested County Manager O’Neal to present the recommended changes. County Manager O’Neal explained that Staff was requested by the Commissioners at the previous staff meeting to determine the best way to provide emergency prescription drug assistance to the low-income elderly. Staff has met and he requested Department of Social Services Director LeVaughn Nesmith to make the presentation. Director Nesmith reported that Staff proposes that New Hanover County DSS would provide emergency financial assistance for prescription drugs and other medically related needs for elderly low-income residents of New Hanover County based on the following criteria without an increase in administrative costs: •The client must be at least 60 years of age. •The household’s monthly income cannot exceed 200% of the current poverty level. •The countable income is gross earned income minus a standard deduction or gross unearned income minus a medical deduction. •The client’s statement of income is acceptable unless questionable. •The assistance is necessary to alleviate or prevent a life-threatening or health-related emergency. •The emergency needs may include, but are not limited to, prescribed medications, co-payments, durable medical equipment, and medical supplies. •The client’s statement as to the medical necessity is acceptable unless questionable. •Sufficient, timely and appropriate assistance is not available from any other source. •The maximum benefit is $500 per fiscal year. •All authorizations must be approved by the worker’s supervisor •If the client has extenuating circumstances, the Director has the discretion to: •Authorize assistance in excess of $500 for the fiscal year. •Make exceptions to the income limit. Eligibility is based on the fiscal year that begins July 1 and ends June 30. Referrals will be accepted from individuals, organizations, and agencies. An assessment will be completed as with any other request for emergency assistance. Budget Director Griffin stated that if the Commissioners decide to fund such a program in the FY 04-05 budget, the $156,000 that was being considered to provide property tax relief for the same group of citizens could be the source of funding. Chairman Greer asked for direction from the Board. Commissioner Caster stated that he did not feel this program addressed the needs of helping the elderly with their property taxes. Chairman Greer agreed and stated that ultimately the North Carolina General Assembly needs to expand the homestead exemption and counties needed to continue to seek legislation for elderly property owner tax relief. Commissioner Davis stated that the emergency medical assistance program does not address the needs of elderly, low-income property owners not being able to pay their property taxes. Commissioner Pritchett expressed concern that the plan submitted by Staff did not have proper safeguards in place to prevent people from taking advantage of the system. Vice-Chairman Boseman stated that since property tax relief for the low-income elderly would be cumbersome to administer, she had requested that Staff look at another avenue for helping the low-income elderly in the County. Chairman Greer reported that the County currently has a program in place through Medsource for prescription drugs for those in need. The budgeted amount for this program is $33,100. County Manager O’Neal relayed that this program is not exclusively for the elderly. Chairman Greer requested that County Manager O’Neal continue with the Staff recommendations. County Manager O’Neal continued the presentation by informing the Board that the recommended adjustments before them were in accordance with the directive from the Commissioners and included: •changes between FY 04-05 General Fund recommended and adopted budget NEW HANOVER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERSBOOK 30 BUDGET WORK SESSION, JUNE 14, 2004PAGE 64 •changes between FY 04-05 Other Funds recommended and adopted budget •public hearing presentation items •New Hanover County Schools summary of revenues and expenditures •New Hanover County drainage funding expenditures Commissioner Davis commented that drainage issues were not being addressed adequately and suggested a joint meeting with the City and beach communities to discuss pooling resources to more efficiently address drainage issues. After a brief discussion, the consensus of the Board was to request Staff to present the proposed budget including the recommended changes and the removal of $156,000 for Social Services - General Assistant - low income elderly prescription drug program as the proposed budget for adoption at the Board’s meeting on June 21, 2004. ADJOURNMENT There being no further discussion, Chairman Greer adjourned the Budget Work Session at 10:00 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Sheila L. Schult Clerk to the Board