Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Veterans Grant topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Veterans services grant language changes force Ottawa County to reallocate staff costs
Summary
Veterans services leaders told the board state grant language narrowed allowable expenses to payroll and administrative costs, removing transportation; Ottawa County plans to move staff time into the grant to free general-fund dollars and will reapply by the November deadline.
Jason Schenkel, former executive director of veterans services, briefed commissioners on a change in Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (MDMVA) grant language that eliminated transportation as an explicitly allowed expense and narrowed eligible uses to staffing, onboarding, rent/utilities and IT. Schenkel said counties must reapply by Nov. 7 and that many counties are considering opting out because the grant no longer fits local strategies.
Schnekel said the county will move 0.5 FTE of the clerk and 0.5 of an administrator assistant into the grant to capture roughly $40,000–$42,000 of general-fund relief and will work with fiscal staff to finalize budget plans. "28 days now into the new year, and we do not have a grant," Schenkel said, urging the board to consider advocacy or contingency supports while reapplication proceeds.
