Okaloosa County BOCC — 2013 meeting #1144 (date undetermined) — 3-4 Veteran Services — reading text

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OKALOOSA COUNTY, FLORIDA SERVICE AREA: ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT/PROGRAM: VETERANS SERVICES PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: To advise, assist and council veterans and their dependents in obtaining maximum benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs which they are entitled as a result of their military service. REVENUE: Veterans Services is funded within the General Fund. Supporting revenue of the General Fund are ad valorem taxes, communications service tax, local business tax, permits and fees, state shared revenue, charges for services, judgments and fines, miscellaneous revenue and transfers from other funds. EXPENDITURES: Expenditures Budget FY11 FY12 FY13 FY14 Category Actual $ Actual $ Original $ Approved $ Personal Services 110,603 129,945 129,409 142,080 Operating Expenses 34,688 9,647 9,855 8,651 Capital Outlay 0 0 0 0 Other 0 0 0 0 Total 145,291 139,592 139,264 150,731 HISTORICAL STAFFING SUMMARY: Category FY11 FY12 FY13 FY14 Full-time 3 3 3 3 Part-Time 0 0 0 0 Relief 0 0 0 0 Total 3 3 3 3 MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS LAST YEAR:  Continued to assess and update office procedures to ensure services offered are maximizing the use of available personnel, technical resources, and reduced postage costs by consolidating all outgoing mail.  Continued to increased number of ready to-rate claims filed with the Dept of Veterans Affairs on behalf of area veterans and other claimants.  Continued to coordinate with the Okaloosa County Inmate Population Manager, Okaloosa County Vet Court’s Coordinator and the VA’s Justice Outreach Coordinator to provide appropriate assistance to eligible incarcerated veterans for Veteran’s Court and other VA specific programs.  Continued to update our outreach program for area Homebound VA beneficiaries with enhanced training and workshops with Assisted Living Facilities, Health and Rehabilitation Facilities (Nursing Homes) and Home Health Care Agencies Staff.  Scheduled and coordinated transportation for 200 veterans to the VA Joint Ambulatory Care Center in Pensacola. Enhanced scheduling procedures for this program previously implemented continue to reduce unnecessary van trips due to “no-shows” who made requests for transportation. PROGRAM GOAL: The Okaloosa County Veterans Affairs Department is to assist all former, present and future members of the United States Armed Forces and their dependents in preparing claims for and securing compensation, pension m educational and other benefits or privileges to which they may be entitled under Federal and State Laws or Regulations by reason of their military service. The offices coordinate and disseminate information on federal, state, county and private veterans’ programs and benefits. KEY OBJECTIVES: 1. To effectively and efficiently respond to all client requests 2. Serve all veterans/dependents including shut-ins, assisted care facilities, incarcerated & homeless veterans 3. To maintain an acceptable dollar return from claims submitted for Federal and State benefits 4. Maintain Client support PERFORMANCE MEASURES: Actual Estimated Adopted Performance Measures FY11/12 FY 12/13 FY 13/14 Number of Full-Time Positions 3 3 3 Input Personnel Services 151,780 129,409 Operating Expenditures 9,859 9,600 Number of Client Contacts (in-offices, phones, email) 8346 8,450 8,450 Output Number of outreach contacts including shut-ins, assisted care 135 160 250 facilities, incarcerated, homeless veterans & veteran briefings Number of Veterans in Okaloosa County* 31,890 32,208 32,468 Percentage of claims filed within one office contact with veterans 95% 95% 96% Efficiency and/or dependents Percentage of claims filed with outreach visits 4% 4.5% 3.5% Percentage of claims filed via other means (mail, fax, computer) .1% .5% .5% Effectiveness Client award for approved claims $8,200,280 $9,200,000 $ 9,200,000 Days for outreach 57 65 70 *NOTE: The Veterans’ population data was extracted from the Dept of Veterans Affairs Veteran Population Model (VetPop2011) which is the latest official Veteran population projection from the VA. VetPop2011 is an actuarial projection model developed by the Office of the Actuary (OACT) for Veteran population projections from FY 2011 to FY 2040 (2010 Census data as part of the calculations). These figures do not include widows/widowers & other VA dependents (children and parents). Figures from the Florida Dept of Veterans Affairs indicate Veteran population at 34,101.