Aransas County approves up to $100,000 for Rockport-Fulton Good Samaritans as demand surges
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Summary
Commissioners approved emergency allocations of health-care sales tax funds up to $100,000 for Rockport-Fulton Good Samaritans, allocating $10,000 immediately for a holiday voucher program after the nonprofit reported a 36% increase in households seeking help from October to November.
Aransas County Commissioners approved using health-care sales tax funds to provide emergency assistance to Rockport-Fulton Good Samaritans of up to $100,000, with an immediate $10,000 allocation to expand the group’s holiday voucher program.
Stephanie Simmons, executive director of Rockport-Fulton Good Samaritans, told the court that average households served rose from 43 in October to 58 in November, a 36% increase. "The need is huge right now," she said, describing how the group combines a voucher program and pantry operations and also provides assistance for clothing, utilities, transportation and prescriptions. Simmons said the voucher recipients must live in Aransas County; the group will still provide immediate help to out-of-county visitors but will refer them to their home county resources.
Commissioners discussed whether to increase the authorized ceiling to $120,000 (one commissioner suggested that modest monthly allocations could be used), but they left the motion at $100,000 to allow staff to return for a budget adjustment in the next fiscal cycle if additional funds are necessary. Staff indicated the $10,000 would be used immediately for Thanksgiving vouchers and the remainder would be deployed as needs arise or through future budget adjustments.
