07262004 Regular Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Regular Meeting July 26, 2004 83. Page 7 from Hays County Appraisal District today. He stated there was a two percent increase in our property values, which Staff had budgeted at zero increase. He stated this two percent increase now creates an estimated $409,924.00 increase. Mr. Mihalkanin inquired whether this increase was for this current fiscal year. Mr. O'Leary stated this increase is the proposed fiscal year. Mayor Narvaiz opened the public hearing and asked if anyone wished to speak. 1) Tom Rowe stated he is a member of the Human Services Advisory Board. He stated the Human Services Advisory Board worked hard on these recommendations. He encouraged the Council to approve the Human Services Advisory Board's recommendations for funding. 2) Donna Murphree stated she is the Chairman of the Human Services Advisory Board. She stated the former City Council asked the Human Services Advisory Board to define for a Human Services Agency and to change the application process. She stated the definition that Human Services Advisory Board provided is "An Agency that provides an array of services to marginalized and disenfranchised populations residing in the San Marcos community. The Agency must respect each client as an inherently valuable member of the community; deliver services fairly, ethically and with awareness of client strengths, abilities, needs and wants; ensure that all persons, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, age, or disability have access to all services and support; show concrete financial accountability for funds and have goals and objectives committed to providing quality services with respect to the above points". She stated she understands these are only recommendations and she feels the Human Services Advisory Board has made these recommendations with their best judgment. 3) Corina Jaimes stated she is the Executive Director of Community Action, Inc. She thanked the Council for supporting Community Action. She also stated due to the support, the Community Action now has a Senior Citizens' Center, which serves as a haven for vulnerable and impoverished Senior Citizens and are also providing a Prescription Assistance Program to uninsured San Marcos residents. She stated the Social Services Budget items 57.032 Prescription Program and 57.040 Senior Citizens' Program, which are the two Community Action Programs, are partially funded by the City. She stated last year, the program was funded for the first time at $15,000.00 from the City and $15,000.00 from CDBG funds. She stated this year they are requesting the full $30,000.00. She stated this would allow Community Action to serve eighty-one San Marcos uninsured residents who would have gone without, had this program not been available. She also stated on the item 57.040, the Senior Citizens' Program, the budget reflects a recommendation of zero funding. She stated Community Action requested $25,000.00, which she hopes will reconsidered. She stated the Senior Program is currently funded by the City at $17,450.00, the County at $16,500.00, and the State at $18,500.00, which go towards direct services. She stated reducing the funding of this Program by thirty-three percent will have a direct impact on these Senior Citizens. 4) Gil Peyton stated he has represented the San Marcos Chamber of Commerce on the Community Action Board for the last three years and has also been a member of the