Agenda Item # 7
Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting
11/10/2015
Agenda Report # 51
TO: Mayor and Council
SUBJECT: 2015-2016 VOCA Continuation Grant
INITIATED BY: District Attorney/Victim-Witness Assistance Program
Recommendation: Approval is requested to authorize the District
Attorney/Victim-Witness Assistance Program to submit and if approved, accept a
grant for $84,138 from the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council along
with $21,035 from the 5% Crime Victim Surcharge Fund allocated in the FY16
Budget to provide funding for Crime Victim Assistance in the Chattahoochee
Judicial Circuit from October 1, 2015 to September 30, 2016. Along with an
additional In-Kind Match of $5,328 to be contributed by volunteer hours. It is
requested that the multi-governmental fund be amended by the amount awarded
plus the local match.
Background: In July of 1989, the Office of the District Attorney began
operating a Crime Victim Assistance Program. In October of 1992, the
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 sustained the program. Although understaffed, the office currently employs
a Victim Services Director and 6 advocates.
Analysis: For FY16, the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council has allocated
$84,138 to Muscogee County Government to support the Victim-Witness Assistance
Program for the grant year October 1, 2015 through September 30, 2016. The
Criminal Justice Coordinating Council requires a 20% match and 25% of that
(which is $5,328) 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, which is the minimum
20% match required. The total amount of $110,501 represents 73% of the
operating budget for salaries and wages of three full-time victim advocates
with benefits and one part-time victim advocate without benefits.
Financial Considerations: The grant total of $110,501 is made up of the
Federal allocation of $84,138 along with $21,035 from the 5% Crime Victim
Surcharge Fund and $5,328 from the required In-Kind Match in the form of
volunteer hours.
Grant Funded Crime Victim Advocates
- VICTIM ADVOCATE #1 (Full-Time):
? Salary - $33,602
? FICA - $1,755
? Medical Insurance ? $5,650
? Retirement - $4,536
? Life Insurance - $168
? Workman?s Comp - $411
- VICTIM ADVOCATE #2 (Full-Time):
? Salary - $33,602
? FICA - $1,870
? Medical Insurance - $5,650
? Retirement - $4,536
? Life Insurance - $168
? Workman?s Comp ? $438
- VICTIM ADVOCATE #3 (Full-Time):
? Salary - $33,602
? FICA - $2,083
? Medical Insurance ? Opted Out - $0
? Retirement - $4,536
? Life Insurance - $168
? Workman?s Comp - $487
VICTIM ADVOCATE #4 (Part-Time):
? Hourly ($15.00)
? 20 Hours per Week
? $15,600 per grant year
? FICA - $967
? Workman?s Comp - $226
Projected Annual Fiscal Impact Statement: There will be no 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 submission and, if approved, accept a grant
in the amount of $84,838 from the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating
Council, to continue the Victim-Witness Assistance Program in the Chattahoochee
Judicial Circuit. This action will provide 74% total funding for three (3) full
time Victim Advocate positions and one (1) part time Victim Advocate position
for the 2015-2016-Grant year.
A RESOLUTION
NO. _____
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION, ON BEHALF
OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND, IF APPROVED, TO ACCEPT A VOCA GRANT OF $84,138
FROM THE GEORGIA CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COUNCIL ALONG WITH $21,035 FROM
THE 5% CRIME VICTIM ASSISTANCE SURCHARGE FUND ALLOCATED IN THE FY16 BUDGET, TO
PROVIDE FUNDING FOR CRIME VICTIM ASSISTANCE IN THE CHATTAHOOCHEE JUDICIAL
CIRCUIT FROM OCTOBER 1, 2015 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2016, AND, ALONG WITH THE
$5,328 IN-KIND MATCH, 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
Criminal Justice Coordinating Council 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 FY16 Budget for
salaries and benefits; and,
WHEREAS, the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council requires 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. Figures are based on a twelve month period;
and,
WHEREAS, the funding will be used to maintain 74% of three full time Victim
Advocate positions and one part time Victim Advocate position, funded in the
FY16 grant from the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council. 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
Victim-Witness Assistance Program in the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit from
October 1, 2015 through September 30, 2016.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
That the City Manager is hereby authorized to submit and if approved, accept a
grant of $84,138 from the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council along
with $21,035 of the 5% Crime Victim Surcharge Funds allocated in the FY16
Budget to fund the Victim-Witness Assistance Program which will extend over a
twelve month period beginning October 1, 2015 through September 30, 2016.
___________
Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia, held
the _________ day of __________ 2015, and adopted at said meeting by the
affirmative vote of
_________ members of said Council.
Councilor Allen voting __________.
Councilor Baker voting __________.
Councilor Barnes voting __________.
Councilor Buck voting __________.
Councilor Davis voting __________.
Councilor Henderson voting __________.
Councilor Huff voting __________.
Councilor Turner Pugh voting __________.
Councilor Thomas voting __________.
Councilor Woodson voting __________.
______________________________
__________________________
Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council , Mayor
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