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Scott County to advertise ordinance allowing state bonus for Department of Social Services staff; DSS outlines PIP utility assistance
Summary
The board authorized advertising an ordinance to accept state funds for a 1.5% bonus program for local Department of Social Services employees and heard a presentation on the Percentage of Income Payment (PIP) utility assistance program and Medicaid renewal workload pressures.
Scott County supervisors voted to advertise a local ordinance needed to accept state bonus funds for county Department of Social Services (DSS) employees and heard a detailed briefing on the PIP (Percentage of Income Payment) program that helps low‑income households manage electric bills.
Lana Mullins, director of the Scott County Department of Social Services, told the board that the General Assembly extended bonus eligibility to local DSS employees and that, to distribute the funds locally, the county must adopt a local ordinance. Mullins said the state has provided roughly $31,392 for the local implementation and that the county calculated a need of about $30,522 for the bonus, leaving a small surplus. The board voted to authorize advertising a public hearing for the ordinance in September.
Mullins also described the PIP program created under the Virginia Clean Economy Act. Local DSS determines eligibility (150% of the Federal Poverty Level threshold is used for screening); Appalachian Power customers can qualify and, if enrolled, a household pays a percentage of monthly income toward electric bills (6% for non‑electric heat; 10% for electric heat). Mullins gave an example: for a family of four with a monthly income threshold used in examples, a 6% PIP payment would be about $241/month and 10% would be about $402/month, and participants must make timely monthly payments for 12 consecutive months for remaining balances to be waived.
Why it matters: The ordinance will allow state bonus funds to be paid to local DSS employees, addressing retention concerns; the PIP program is an income‑targeted utility assistance tool that may benefit seniors and low‑income households in the county.
What’s next: The board authorized advertising the ordinance and scheduled a public hearing in September; DSS will continue to accept and process PIP eligibility applications via local offices or the CommonHelp website.
Representative evidence: Mullins provided program details and funding totals and answered board questions about enrollment, eligibility and the 12‑month payment requirement.
