REP HSEDC 006 04/20/2004 2002-2004

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REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN SERVICES AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DATE: April 20, 2004 Re: Comm. Nos. 486 and 486.1 PLACE: Council Chambers 'T'IME: 10:10 a.m. Council Chair and Members tlawai'i County Council Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Your Committee on Human Services and Economic Development, to which was referred Communication No. 486 and 486.1 reports as follows: In response to the annual solicitation issued by the Department of Finance, forty-tour (44) grant proposals were received by the application deadline of January 31, 2004. Via Communication No. 486. dated February 3, 2004. your HSEDC chair transmitted bound copies of the 44 grant applications to Council members for review. Interviews of all grant applicants were conducted on March 9-10, 2004 in Kona and Hilo. respectively. Upon completion of this grant review process, your Chair and HSEDC nonprofit working group assembled the funding recommendations and narrative overview submitted to Council Members via Communication No. 486.1. Communication No. 486.1, dated March 25, 2004, from Fred Holschuh, Chair ofthe Committee on Human Services and Economic Development (HSEDC), transmitted recommendations of the HSEDC Chair and nonprofit working group for funding of nonprofit organizations for fiscal year 2004-05. Provided therein is a compilation of proposed nonprofit appropriations showing the various categories of human services represented by grant applicants, and prior year county funding in fiscal year 2003-04. In formulating its funding recommendations, your Chair and nonprofit working group composed of Legislative Auditor's Oftice staff Rory Flynn, Susan Caseria and Donald Ikeda along with Councilmember I3ob .tacobson, attempted to assess the merits and contributions of each applicant, to provide a continuum of funding to programs addressing longstanding and crucial social needs, to fairly apportion funds among all nine Council districts, and to give fair consideration to new programs. The Chair and working group recommended minor funding adjustments for FY 2004-OS to those agencies and programs that have received county support in FY 2003-04. "Phis action would appropriate $895,500 of the $900,000 and have available $4,500 for two new grants, American Red Cross-Caregiving ($2,500) and Turning Point for Families, Inc.-Rural Outreach Project ($2,000). Your Committee is concerned about the degree to which County grants have supplemented services that arc the responsibility of the State of Hawaii, in particular the Department of Health and