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Authorize the County’s contribution of $1,000 from General Fund contribution allocated to District 2 to benefit the Benicia Community Action Council
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
Supervisor Brown requests that the Board of Supervisors authorize the County’s contribution of $1,000 from the General Fund contribution allocated to District 2 to benefit the Benicia Community Action Council.
SUMMARY:
Founded in 1967, the Benicia Community Action Council (Benicia CAC) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization which provides support to those in need in Benicia, including offering daily hot meal service for Benicia’s seniors, and programs for Benicia’s youth.
The Benicia CAC also hosts several holiday programs including a free Thanksgiving Community Dinner for the local community, and “Home for the Holidays” Food Baskets, which provides nutritious, well stocked food gift baskets to eligible low-income Benicia households at Christmas. The baskets also include toys for families with children.
Additional holiday programs include the Adopt a Senior program which puts carefully screened families and individuals in contact with a homebound senior who seeks companionship and camaraderie during the holiday season.
Guidelines for Grant Funding Requests:
During the FY2025/26 Budget Hearings, the Board appropriated $75,000, $15,000 to each supervisorial district, provide guidelines on how to recommend funding for qualifying agencies or programs.
The guidelines are as follows:
1) Each supervisor must submit the proposed expenditure to the County Counsel and the Auditor/Controller for initial review.
2) The Board must approve the expenditure by a majority vote.
3) The Board must determine that the expenditure is for a public purpose.
4) The Board may authorize an expenditure of public funds to a nonprofit organization so long as the County
retains ultimate control over the exercise of judgement and discretion of the intended program.
5) To ensure accountability, all expenditures are subject to audits by the Auditor/Controller; and
a. If the recipient provides an activity, program or service (“activity”), it shall provide an activity report within 30 days of the activity that states the number of persons attending (if applicable) or participating activities carried out, feedback from participants (if applicable) and benefits of the activity. The recipient’s failure to provide a report may result in its being considered ineligible for future funding.
b. If the recipient is purchasing property or making improvements, it shall use the funds for only the specified purposes and allow representatives of the county to inspect and/or audit the purchase or the contractor’s performance, the facility or the portion improved with the funds and/or the records pertaining to the expenditures. The recipient shall retain for inspection and audit purposes all books, receipts, documentation and other records of the expenditures for three (3) years from date of receiving funds.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The costs associated with preparing the agenda item are nominal and absorbed by District 2’s FY2025/26 Working Budget.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could choose not to authorize the expenditure; however, this is not recommended as this item is consistent with Board policy.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION