Agenda Item # 6
Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting
11/26/2013
Agenda Report # 51
TO: Mayor and Council
SUBJECT: 2013-14 Prosecution Based Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Program
INITIATED BY: District Attorney/Victim-Witness Assistance Program
Recommendation: Approval is requested to authorize the District Attorney?s
Victim-Witness Assistance Program to accept a grant for $84,138 from the
Prosecuting Attorney?s Council of the State of Georgia (hereinafter referred to
as the ?PACGA?), along with $21,035 from the 5% Crime Victim Surcharge Fund
allocated in the FY14 Budget to provide funding for Crime Victim Assistance in
the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit from October 1, 2013 to September 30, 2014.
An additional $5,259 will come from an In-Kind Match contributed by volunteer
hours, donated through established community service programs and internship
opportunities with local universities.
Background: In July of 1989, the Office of the District Attorney began
operating a Crime Victim Assistance Program. In October of 1992, the Crime
Victim-Witness Assistance Program was awarded the first Crime Victim Assistance
Grant, thereby broadening the program for the provision of basic services. In
July of 1995, additional funds were received from the 5% Crime Victim Surcharge
Fund, thus allowing the program to expand services to the 6 counties within the
Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit. Successful grant allocations since that time
have allowed the program to maintain their current staff of 5 fulltime victim
advocates and 1 part-time victim advocate.
Analysis: For FY14, the Prosecuting Attorneys? Counsel has allocated $84,138
for the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit to support the Crime Victim-Witness
Assistance Program for the grant year October 1, 2013 through September 30,
2014. PACGA requires a minimum 20% match and 25% of that or $5,259 must come in
the form of volunteer hours specified as In-Kind contributions. The District
Attorney requests Council?s authorization to utilize $21,035 from the 5% Crime
Victim Surcharge Funds.
The amount of $105,173 represents the operating budget for salaries and wages
of two full-time victim advocate positions with benefits and one part-time
victim advocate position without benefits.
Grant Funded Crime Victim Advocates
- VICTIM ADVOCATE #1 (Full-Time):
? Salary - $32,613.36
? FICA/Medicare - $2,282.78
? Health ? $5,656.00
? Life Insurance - $119.36
? Retirement ? $5,669.65
- VICTIM ADVOCATE #2 (Full-Time):
? Salary - $31,817.76
? FICA/Medicare - $2,434.06
? Health ? $5650.00
? Life Insurance - $127.27
? Retirement ? $6,045.37
- VICTIM ADVOCATE #3 (Part-Time):
? Wages Per Grant Year - $9,500.40
? FICA/Medicare ? 726.78
Financial Considerations: The grant-funding total is $105,173 with the Federal
allocation of $84,138 along with $21,035 from the 5% Crime Victim Surcharge
Fund and $5,304 from In-Kind Match. The required In-Kind Match is provided from
volunteer hours.
Projected Annual Fiscal Impact Statement: There will not be an annual fiscal
impact as a result of awarding this grant.
Legal Considerations: Georgia Law requires the District Attorney provide
extensive services, information and notification to crime victims.
(O.C.G.A.-17-17-1) The District Attorney is solely and directly responsible for
complying with this law as mandated by the Victims? Bill of Rights. Legislature
acknowledges that this mandate places additional burdens on prosecutors and
have designed laws enabling utilization of the 5% Crime Victim Surcharge Fund
to assist in easing said burdens.
Recommendations/Actions: Authorize acceptance of a grant in the amount of
$84,138 from the Prosecuting Attorneys? Counsel, to continue the Victim-Witness
Assistance Program in the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit. This action will
provide funding for two (2) full time Crime Victim Advocate positions and one
(1) part time Crime Victim Advocate position for the 2013-2014 grant periods.
A RESOLUTION
NO._____
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ACCEPT, ON BEHALF OF THE DISTRICT
ATTORNEY, A GRANT OF $84,138 FROM THE PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS? COUNSEL ALONG WITH
$21,035 FROM THE 5% CRIME VICTIM ASSISTANCE SURCHARGE FUND ALLOCATED IN THE
FY14 BUDGET, TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR CRIME VICTIM ASSISTANCE IN THE
CHATTAHOOCHEE JUDICIAL CIRCUIT FROM OCTOBER 1, 2013 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2014,
AND AMEND THE MULTI-GOVERNMENTAL FUND BY LIKE AMOUNT.
WHEREAS, the District Attorney is requesting the acceptance of a VOCA Grant in
the amount of $84,138 to be allocated over a twelve month period from the
Prosecuting Attorneys? Counsel to support innocent victims of violent crime
under the 1996 Victims of Crime Act (VOCA), along with $21,035 from the 5%
Crime Victim Assistance Surcharge Fund allocated in the FY14 Budget for
salaries and benefits; and,
WHEREAS, the Prosecuting Attorneys? Counsel requires that a minimum 20% of the
grant come in the form of a match and 25% of that be an In-Kind Match to be met
through the use of volunteers. All figures are based on a twelve month period;
and,
WHEREAS, the funding will be used to maintain two full time Crime Victim
Advocate positions and one part time Crime Victim Advocate position, funded in
the FY14 grant from the Prosecuting Attorney?s Counsel. Grant funding will
provide crime victim assistance services in Chattahoochee County, Harris
County, Marion County, Talbot County, Taylor County and Muscogee County; said
services being mandated by Georgia Law; and
WHEREAS, The District Attorney will continue to supervise the operation of the
Crime Victim Assistance Program in the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit from
October 1, 2013 through September 30, 2014.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
That the City Manager is hereby authorized to accept a grant of $84,138
from the Prosecuting Attorneys? Counsel along with $21,035 of the 5% Crime
Victim Surcharge Funds allocated in the FY14 Budget to fund the Crime Victim
Assistance Program which will extend over a twelve month period beginning
October 1, 2013 through September 30, 2014.
________________________
Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia,
held the _________ day of _____________ 2013, and adopted at said meeting by
the affirmative vote of _____________ members of said Council.
Councilor Allen voting __________.
Councilor Henderson voting __________.
Councilor Huff voting __________.
Councilor McDaniel voting __________.
Councilor Turner Pugh voting __________.
Councilor Woodson voting __________.
_____________________________
_________________________
Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council , Mayor
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