Committee approves contingent fund adjustment for temporary shelter start‑up; officials say operating certificate will change reimbursement rules

The Health and Human Services Committee approved a contingent fund appropriation on July 16 to cover start‑up and security expenses related to the county’s temporary housing assistance (THA) shelter site.

A county staff member explained that the site—a rented hotel—required a prolonged start‑up period while staff were hired, equipment moved in and OTDA (New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance) conducted site reviews. “It takes a while when you've got a brand new program and you're trying to move all the equipment in there… it typically takes between six months and a year for an organization to get that operating certificate,” the staff member said. Because the shelter was operating before receiving an operating certificate, some early start‑up costs are not currently reimbursable.

County finance staff on the call said the safety‑net portion of eligible shelter costs is reimbursable at 29 percent; the local share is the remainder. The finance staff added that once OTDA grants an operating certificate the program will have an operating budget and a larger share of ongoing costs will be eligible for standard reimbursement. “The majority of the cost… is because the building was unoccupied,” the staff member said, explaining why some expenses could not yet be submitted for reimbursement.

During review of the resolution, committee members identified an arithmetic discrepancy in the draft and asked staff to correct it. The committee agreed on a friendly amendment to explicitly reference both the contingent fund and the mandate contingent fund in the resolve statement and to correct the line‑item totals; the chair instructed staff to update the modified figures. The committee then voted; roll call recorded four yes votes and the motion passed.

Why it matters: the county is operating an emergency shelter program while awaiting state certification that will determine how much of the program’s operating costs are reimbursable. Start‑up and security expenses incurred before certification currently fall to the county until the operating certificate and cost‑per‑room reimbursements take effect.

Committee direction and next steps: staff will revise the resolution to correct the arithmetic and reflect the amended contingent fund language; ongoing operating costs will be rolled into future budget and reimbursement processes once the site receives OTDA certification.