Agenda Item # Add ON
Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting
09/13/2011
Agenda Report # _____
TO: Mayor and Council
SUBJECT: 2011 Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Continuation Grant Program
INITIATED BY: District Attorney's Office/Victim-Witness Assistance Program
Recommendation: Approval is requested authorizing the District Attorney?s
Victim-Witness Assistance Program to submit an application, and if approved,
accept a grant for $84,838 from the Georgia Criminal Justice Coordinating
Council along with $16,968 from the 5% Crime Victim Surcharge Fund allocated in
the FY12 Budget. This grant will provide funding for Crime Victim Assistance
in the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit from October 1, 2011 to September 30,
2012. The additional $4,242 will consist of: The program?s In-Kind Match
contributed by required volunteer hours, donated counseling services and the
use of office space within the Columbus Government Center. Approval is also
requested to amend the Multi-Governmental Grant the same as the award of the
grant.
Background: In July of 1989, 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 flourish and as of September 2010, the office has a
staff of 5 full-time victim advocates and 1 part-time victim advocate.
Analysis: For FY12, the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council has allocated
$84,838 for the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit to support the Crime
Victim-Witness Assistance Program for the grant year October 1, 2011 through
September 30, 2012. The Criminal Justice Coordinating Council requires a 20%
match of $21,210. Of that required match, 25% or $4,242 must come in the form
of volunteer hours specified as In-Kind contributions. The District Attorney
requests Council?s authorization to utilize $16,968 from the 5% Crime Victim
Surcharge Funds.
The total amount of $106,048 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): VICTIM ADVOCATE #2 (Full-Time):
Salary - $32,451.12 Salary - $31,659.68
FICA - $2,482.51 FICA - $2,421.96
Medicare - $470.54 Medicare - $459.06
Health ? $5,400.00 Health ? $5400.00
Life Insurance - $162.26 Life Insurance - $158.29
Retirement ? $5,192.18 Retirement ? $5,065.54
VICTIM ADVOCATE #3 (Part-Time):
Wages Per Grant Year - $13,676.00
FICA - $1,046.21
Financial Considerations: The grant-funding total is $106,048 with the Federal
allocation of $84,838.00, along with $16,968 from the 5% Crime Victim Surcharge
Fund and $4,242 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 submission and if approved, acceptance of 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 funding for two (2) full time Crime
Victim Advocate positions and one (1) part time Crime Victim Advocate position
for the 2011-2012-grant period.
RESOLUTION
NO._____
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION, ON BEHALF OF THE DISTRICT
ATTORNEY AND, IF APPROVED, TO ACCEPT A VOCA GRANT OF $84,838 FROM THE GEORGIA
CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COUNCIL ALONG WITH $16,968 FROM THE 5% CRIME
VICTIM ASSISTANCE SURCHARGE FUND ALLOCATED IN THE FY12 BUDGET, TO PROVIDE
FUNDING FOR CRIME VICTIM ASSISTANCE IN THE CHATTAHOOCHEE JUDICIAL CIRCUIT FROM
OCTOBER 1, 2011 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2012, 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 $84,838 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 $16,968 from the
5% Crime Victim Assistance Surcharge Fund allocated in the FY12 Budget for
salaries and benefits; and,
WHEREAS, the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council requires that 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 FY12 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
Crime Victim Assistance Program in the Chattahoochee Judicial Circuit from
October 1, 2011 through September 30, 2012.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
That the City Manager is hereby authorized to submit an application,
and if approved, accept a grant of $84,838 from the Georgia Criminal Justice
Coordinating Council along with $16,968 of the 5% Crime Victim Surcharge Funds
allocated in the FY12 Budget to fund the Crime Victim Assistance Program which
will extend over a twelve-month period beginning October 1, 2011 through
September 30, 2012 and authorize to amend the Multi-Governmental Fund by a like
amount.
___________________________
Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia,
held the _________day of _____________, 2011 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 Washington, Clerk of Council , Mayor
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