Discussion and possible action to accept the continuation grant awarded to Webb County from the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) for Fiscal Year 2023 under their Improving Criminal Justice Responses (ICJR) for a Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking Grant Program in the amount of THREE HUNDRED SEVENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($375,000.00) and for the Commissioners Court to allocate an additional FIFTY-FIVE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED SIXTY DOLLARS ($55,260.00) from the Webb County General Fund to cover the wages and benefits payable to the grant-funded investigator/peace officer pursuant to the Webb County Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) that are not covered by the grant for the current and next two fiscal years (beginning October 1, 2023 thru September 30, 2026) subject to annual appropriations; and designating the Webb County Judge as the authorized official to sign all relevant documents in all matters related to this grant and any other matters incident thereto. Thus, a line item transfer will be presented on or after April 2024 to cover the difference of $18,420.00 from salary savings. Specifically, this grant is to enhance investigations in all matters relating to domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking and dating violence through the payment of the salary and fringe benefits of a grant-funded Sheriff’s Office investigator and to sustain legal advocacy efforts by the Casa de Misericordia Domestic Violence Shelter Legal Advocate. All required documents were sent to the Economic Development Department and were found in compliance with the Single Point of Contact (SPOC) policy. [Requested by Martin Cuellar, Webb County Sheriff; Grant Fund #2604 ($375,000.00) and General Fund #1001-1160-001-463907-010 ($55,260.00)]
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Requested Budget Amount
|
Cost per
Year
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Total for 3 years
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TOTAL REQUEST (Includes Salary & Fringe Benefits-Health Insurance, FICA, Workers' Comp.
Retirement, & Unemployment Insurance) |
$18,420.00 |
$55,260.00 |
Issue: Since 2013, the Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) has continually funded a grant funded domestic violence (DV) investigator for the Webb County Sheriff’s Office and a legal advocate for the Casa Misericordia Domestic Violence Shelter through this grant program.
Solution: Casa Misericordia Domestic Violence Shelter and the Webb County Sheriff's Office seek to continue their coordinated, collaborative efforts to assist victims of domestic violence in the local Laredo/Webb County Community.
Result: Victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking in the Laredo/Webb County area will continue to receive improved, enhanced services from the Casa Misericordia Domestic Violence Shelter and the Webb County Sheriff's Office to assist them with needed recovery, restitution, privacy, justice, and dignity. |