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Council questions $265,000 general assistance request after staff reports 278 people served
Summary
General Assistance staff told the council they helped 278 people (76 men, 108 women, 94 children) and recorded $196,148.68 expended through May; the manager asked for $265,000 in the next year, but a councilor pushed back, citing a 95% projection that points to roughly $214,000 and urging a lower $215,000–$220,000 figure.
Manager (S5) introduced Tab 25 and invited the General Assistance lead (S6) to describe caseloads and expenditures. S6 said GA assisted 278 people between July 2023 and May 2024 — 76 men, 108 women and 94 children — and reported total GA expenditures as of the end of May of $196,148.68. S6 added the city’s direct outlay on those costs was $14,064.11 and noted housing costs were the largest driver.
S6 told the council the city expects 36 new units on Congress Street (12 market-rate, 36 low‑income units on the project page) and that the city may see increased demand for rental assistance and CMP utility support as new units come online. "We have assisted 278 people, with housing applications... housing was a huge cost for us," S6 said.
Manager (S5) said the department requested $265,000 for the coming year; S6 explained that reimbursements from the state cover roughly 70% of the total GA expenditures and staff have little control over unpredictable emergency needs. Council member Kristine (S2) pushed back on the $265,000 request, noting the June 17 projection at 95% would put year-end near $214,002.56 and said, "There's a $50,000 question here on that table that I can't swallow." S2 proposed a target near $215,000 and asked staff for stronger justification for the larger request.
Councilors thanked S6 for the level of detail and asked that staff refine projections and return with any further supporting data. The council did not take a formal vote on the GA number in this session but signaled a preference to narrow the gap between manager and council projections before final adoption.
