Douglas County de-obligates $106,243.26 in representative-payee grant funds, plans to reapply next fiscal year

The Douglas County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously May 15 to de-obligate $106,243.26 in grant funding from the Aging and Disability Services Division (ADSD) for a representative-payee program the county had planned to start this fiscal year.

Brooke Adey, community services director, explained that the program — intended to help seniors and people with disabilities manage finances to remain independent — required newly created positions. The county completed recruitment and made an offer, but the preferred candidate rescinded on March 5 and a subsequent resignation by the county's public guardian left the department without the personnel necessary to launch the program this fiscal year. Adey said the county worked with ADSD and obtained assurance that de-obligating this year's funds would not jeopardize consideration for next year's award; she said the county has been awarded the grant for the next fiscal year.

Adey said the grant funds two positions: a deputy public guardian and a case manager; the county planned to match part of the funding with indigent funds. "This program funds two positions, a deputy public guardian and then a case manager, both to support this program," Adey said. She added that once the county receives the notice of subaward next fiscal year, it will return to the board to request the grant acceptance and begin recruitment.

Commissioner Jeanne Gardner moved approval to de-obligate $106,243.26; Commissioner John Tolbert seconded. The motion passed unanimously.