DEPARTMENT: Economic Development
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Rene Dominguez
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City-wide
SUBJECT:
Workforce Solutions Alamo (WSA) Board Budget
SUMMARY:
An Ordinance approving the Workforce Solutions Alamo Annual Operating Budget for FY 2018-2019 as recommended by the Committee of Six on August 22, 2018, for submission to the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). The WSA Partnership Agreement requires approval by the City Council, Bexar County Commissioner’s Court, and the Area Judges. The Committee of Six recommended approving the proposed 2018-2019 Operating Budget on August 22, 2018, and the WSA Board of Directors recommended approval on August 24, 2018.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) is the state agency that oversees and provides workforce development funding for services to employers and job seekers in Texas. TWC provides funding and services through 28 regional workforce boards, including the locally-created Workforce Solutions Alamo. WSA serves Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Frio, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, McMullen, Medina, and Wilson counties (the “WSA Service Area”).
The WSA Board is a group of 25 individuals appointed by the City, Bexar County and judges from the 12 other counties (the “Area Judges”) within the WSA Service Area (collectively, the “Principals”), who represent business, education, economic development, community organizations, and government. Board members are appointed to three-year terms and may serve unlimited terms. The primary role of the WSA Board is to align, focus, and set direction for workforce activities in the WSA Service Area and manage an annual workforce budget of approximately $96 million in federal and state workforce funding.
The Principals are parties to an Interlocal Agreement through the Chief Elected Officials (the “CEOs”) of the WSA Service Area, whereby they oversee the planning, budgeting, administration, and execution of WSA programs. The CEOs have established a “Committee of Six” made up of two representatives each from the City of San Antonio, Bexar County, and the Area Judges to carry out their duties and responsibilities, which include recommending to the Principals the appointment of members to the WSA Board. Currently, Councilmembers Palaez and Perry serve on the Committee of Six.
Proposed WSA Annual Operating Budget for FY 2018-2019
The proposed Workforce Solutions Alamo Budget for FY 2018-2019 was recommended for approval by the Committee of Six on August 22, 2018, and the WSA Board of Directors on August 24, 2018. This proposed Budget consists of a planning estimate of $96 million in federal and state funding sources, including approximately $70 million for child care services and $24 million for staff to operate 16 contracted workforce service centers in the 12-county area. These planning estimates restrict the use of the funds for contracted workforce service centers to serve participants in Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA) Adult, WIOA Youth, WIOA Dislocated, WIOA Rapid Response, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment & Training (SNAP E&T), Child Care Programs, Trade Act Services, and Vocational Rehabilitation Summer and Earn. The $5 million WSA corporate operating budget is included in the $96 million WSA Annual Operating Budget.
ISSUE:
The WSA Partnership Agreement requires San Antonio City Council, Bexar County Commissioners Court, and the other 12 WSA Area Judges to review and approve the annual WSA Operating Budget. The Committee of Six recommended approving the proposed Operating Budget on August 22, 2018, and the WSA Board of Directors recommended approval of the proposed Operating Budget for 2018-2019 on August 24, 2018. Bexar County is scheduled to approve the WSA Operating Budget on September 11, 2018 and the Area Judges are scheduled to approve the WSA Operating Budget on September 26, 2018.
ALTERNATIVES:
City Council could reject the Operating Budget for FY 2018-2019. Failure by all the Principals to approve the WSA Operating Budget will not conform to the Partnership Agreement to which the City is a party.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact to the City’s budget.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the WSA Annual Operating Budget for FY 2018-2019.