Budget committee approves Dignity Fund needs assessment but keeps $3 million allocation on reserve

The Budget & Finance Committee on Thursday approved the Human Services Agency—ommunity needs assessment that will guide the Dignity Fund—our-year service and allocation plan, but the committee voted to keep the new $3 million FY18—9 allocation on budget reserve while staff finalizes implementation details.

HSA Director Shereen McSpadden told supervisors the needs assessment used community forums, focus groups and a survey with about 1,400 responses to document service gaps and equity factors. McSpadden said the assessment found the department serves roughly one in four of the city—lderly population and reaches many priority groups, and that preliminary plans would use the needs assessment to inform a service allocation plan for the approximately $54 million Dignity Fund.

Budget Legislative Analyst staff recommended placing the new $3 million on reserve because the department has not yet spent down previously allocated dollars: BLA testimony cited more than $2 million unspent and roughly $500,000 in encumbrances in this program year. Several supervisors asked whether the department had a spending plan; McSpadden said she had presented a spending plan previously and that the oversight and advisory committee and the commission had approved it.

A motion to remove the reserve failed on a 2— 3 roll call; Chair Malia Cohen then moved to keep the item on reserve and that motion passed. The committee recorded the vote and instructed staff to return with any requested clarifications to proceed to the full Board.

What happens next: the approved needs assessment will be forwarded with a positive recommendation; the allocation remains on budget reserve pending additional information about spending timing and program drawdown.