HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93009_1651would prevent a county from continuing any program already in place for jobs.
Commissioner Fortner asked how soon the computer system would be installed in the
counties. Howard said that originally the target date was July]. This has been delayed until October
ofl998. Technical assistance,training/installation and on-going maintenance for the equipment will
be provided by the state.
Fortner asked about the heavy workload already being handled by the local DSS staff. She
asked if additional work was being given with the new legislation. Howard said they envisioned a
decrease in people trying to come into the system. Also, the program integrity worker that has been
provided by the state will help. The biometric system doesn't clog up the cycle. It's quick. The
information is processed while the applicant is talking to the intake worker. One person should be
able to handle the biometrics. During 1998-99, N.C. will be very successful with its Work First
Program. This will be accomplished, not by something that was done or not done, but it will be by
biometric default. This has been found to be true in every other state.
Howard said the legislation gave counties the ability to look at every portion of the state plan
and recognize where there were options to do something different. If it is tougher sanctions, lessor
more cash benefits, voucher system, going five years instead of two, it is what works best for each
county. All ofthe individuals currently receiving welfare are not counted in the unemployment rolls.
Stewart asked about the five-year plan. She said she understood a 90% goal had to be met
to remain as a pilot county or be eligible for the lesser 80% maintenance of effort. Howard said this
was correct. A provision is included. Originally, for electing counties the percentage was 80% but
it was changed to 90. The thrust of this is that counties would take the top ten percent of local
dollars and then decide to do something creative. A county in the eastern part of the state has no
fast-food restaurants, no industry, no jobs except governmental. It was found that the land would
not perk and there was not a county sewer system. This county could use its local money to invest
in a pipe and use the welfare recipients to learn a trade, responsibility, and help the county overall.
In Davie County there is a lack of day care. They are looking at creating this type of care and 13
industries are willing to assist. The people are not able to work unless there is day care.
Transportation is also a problem. North Carolina school buses are being looked at as a means of
transportation. The appropriate state officials are being contacted about this.
Stewart said that ifthe propositions were not money making (private/public partnerships) that
someone would have to continue funding them. Howard said that what Davie County needed was
seed money. After the day care center was established it would be turned over to the private sector.
Stewart said this sounded like the counties could start their own CETA programs. Commissioner
Fortner said she recalled this was not successful in Iredell County.
Commissioner Boone said he felt that a period of low unemployment was an ideal time to
start this program. He mentioned a teleconference was held recently. There was an October 31st
deadline if counties chose to be electing. If they do not choose this option, they are out of the
"running" for two years. (Berry and Howard said this was correct.) if a county chooses to become
electing it can later rescind this action and adopt the state plan as its own. In other words, a county
can remove itselffromthis decision. Boone asked for an explanation about the maintenanceofeffort
requirement. Berry said this was a requirement of the federal government. This means that based
on historical spending the state has to maintain a certain level of spending. It was put into place to
keep states from "racing to the bottom." States would have to continue to spend certain amounts of
money. In order to qualify for the temporary assistance for needy families block grant, N.C., at the
state level, has to maintain 80% of its spending. The legislators decided to give counties (electing)
a break. It is believed that an incentive is deserved for taking on "electing status." These counties
can spend 90% of their historical spending - - what was budgeted as county funds in 96-97. The
money includes eligibility workers, administration, the county's share of emergency assistance
M and the jobs program. All the different components that were rolled into the TANF block
grant. If an electing county performs for two years, and meets its own goals, it can go to 80%.
This will free up more funds and there are no restrictions on this money. The legislation does state
that in the plan, but it should he indicated how the funds will be used. A simple sentence: "Return