Title
Joint resolution reserving $100,000 of 2020 Video Gaming Revenue (VGR) grant funds for agency unreimbursed novel corona virus (COVID-19) emergency shelter expenses.
Staff Summary
• Lake County’s homeless service and domestic violence agencies, in normal circumstances, provide shelter in congregate settings. Under the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) issued guidance that emergency shelter can and should be provided in non-congregate settings. Due to the widespread impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on local health and human services, additional non-congregate emergency shelter needs are anticipated.
• At its February 28, 2020 meeting, the Public Services Advisory and Review Committee (ARC) of the Lake County Housing and Community Development Commission (HCDC) discussed staff funding recommendations of $601,503 in VGR grant awards for gambling addiction treatment and behavioral-health services. With $701,503 in VGR funds budgeted in Fiscal Year 2020, $100,000 of VGR grant funds are still available.
• At this time, COVID-19 emergency shelter funding appears to be available in local, state, and federal aid packages for COVID-19 response. This reservation of VGR funds is to fund or reimburse emergency, non-congregate shelter needs including, but not limited to, reimbursing Lake County shelters for costs of emergency, non-congregate shelter. Such funding or reimbursement shall be subject to County Administrator approval and only in the event that adequate funding or reimbursements from other sources are unavailable.
Body
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the Illinois Video Gaming Act (230 ILCS 40) establishes a 30 percent tax on gross terminal revenue, of which one-sixth is distributed to the governing body where the revenue was generated; and
WHEREAS, on August 13, 2013, the Lake County Board adopted the Lake County Video Gaming Ordinance, thereby permitting lawful video gaming within unincorporated areas of Lake County; and
WHEREAS, on September 13, 2016, the Lake County Board adopted the Video Gaming Revenue Policy to standardize the reinvestment of video gaming revenue in services to help residents who suffer from gambling addiction and other forms of substance abuse which is a prevalent behavioral health issue.
WHEREAS, on March 13, 2020, the Lake County Board Chair issued a declaration of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic that on March 16, 2020 was extended by the Lake County Board for 45 days.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by this County Board of Lake County, Illinois, that $100,000 in 2020 Video Gaming Revenue be reserved for agencies providing emergency shelter for people who are homeless during the COVID-19 crisis. In the event that emergency shelter expenses are fully reimbursed by other funding sources, these funds will be awarded in the future consistent with the Video Gaming Revenue Policy.
DATED at Waukegan, Illinois, on April 7, 2020.