Compliance and Continuity Committee Review of 2014-2015 Reports 1601

Conclusions 6

• CL1
  Fair and sensible pension reform remains an urgent priority for the County. The costs of its pension obligations continue to rise despite the PEPRA reforms of 2013. The largest liabilities on the County’s most recent financial statement relate to pensions: its net pension liability of $925 Million and its outstanding pension obligation bonds of $329 Million. Despite the size of this obligation the County has only limited options to manage it. The size of the liability will depend each year on the investment results of the CCCERA pension fund. Because of legal precedent in California that has not yet been challenged, the County has not negotiated with its labor organizations over the rates of future pension benefits to be earned. Such benefits should in our judgment be included in collective bargaining negotiations. To do so, the Board should seriously consider various avenues to challenge the California Rule in court. Such a change would be supported by sound legal arguments and could yield the County, if successful, an important tool to move forward on pension reform through collective bargaining. Contra Costa County 2015-2016 Grand Jury Report 1603 Page 15 Grand Jury Reports are posted at http://www.cc-courts.org/grandjury
• CL2
  Public assistance programs in the County totaled about $185 million in benefits in 2015 for roughly 10,000 recipients. Fraud detection efforts to weed out overpayments, fraud, and criminal activity have been underperforming compared to efforts statewide and in six (6) other bay area counties. Fraud referral cases declined to below 1 percent in 2015. This coincided with the drop in the number of welfare fraud workers and Welfare Fraud Investigators at EHSD. In July 2015, the County took the first step to improve welfare fraud prosecution by sending 300 referrals to the DA’s Office. Since the number of welfare fraud referrals Contra Costa County 2015-2016 Grand Jury Report 1608 Page 18 Grand Jury Reports are posted at http://www.cc-courts.org/grandjury has also increased, EHSD is actively recruiting additional Welfare Fraud Investigators and two additional full time staff in the overpayments unit. Most of the salaries and benefits of Welfare Fraud Investigators, EW, overpayment workers, and DA staff come at little cost to the County because they are reimbursable by CDSS. In addition, CDSS has increased the incentive for fraud recovery to 12.5 percent of all fraud recovered in the CalWorks, CalFresh and In-Home Supportive Services programs. Through these mechanisms, the County could fully staff welfare fraud programs at little cost. The issue of Public Assistance Fraud is an important one for the County, and one which must be addressed to ensure that public funds are awarded only to needy and qualified recipients, and that those who steal public funds are properly punished. Investigation and prosecution sends a message to the county taxpayers that their taxes are being used for problems that need to be fixed. Finally, when the County acts as a welfare fraud watchdog, criminals and people willing to commit fraud are discouraged from doing so.
• CL3
  As attention to the extent and consequences of human trafficking has grown, law enforcement in Contra Costa County has made significant strides in investigating suspected trafficking and prosecuting the traffickers. Identifying and assisting the victims remains a significant challenge, requiring the coordinated efforts of both law enforcement and the community. The operating guidelines for victim identification and assistance under development by the Zero Tolerance Coalition should include a comprehensive action plan for addressing both law enforcement issues and victim needs similar to that used in Alameda County. Contra Costa County 2015-2016 Grand Jury Report 1609 Page 12 Grand Jury Reports are posted at http://www.cc-courts.org/grandjury
• CL4
  Being a foster parent is not easy and requires special skill sets and training to succeed. While there are many reasons people become foster parents, some people do so because they have a higher calling based on love of another human being or as a commitment to their spiritual faith. The deadline for full implementation of AB 403 is January 2019. This allows the County limited time to react and respond to the challenge of finding, training and supporting enough parents willing to foster children who have extreme mental health or other needs. The County needs to redouble its efforts to locate, recruit and support more kinship and foster care givers, enhance its current programs, seek more funding to support the transition of youth now in group homes, as well as to provide in-county space for those youth placed in out-of-county care. This work must be done in time to comply with the January 2019 deadline set and to provide the County’s most vulnerable youth with more permanent care, and avoid what one interviewee described as “a train wreck waiting to happen”. Contra Costa County 2015-2016 Grand Jury Report 1612 Page 13 Grand Jury Reports are posted at http://www.cc-courts.org/grandjury
• CL5
  We can no longer afford to ignore the housing crisis in the County. AH is imperative as we plan for the future. Middle class families and professionals cannot afford to enter the housing market in the communities in which they work. Evicted renters become homeless, because they cannot afford escalating housing cost increases. The Bay Area News Group reports almost daily about the shortage of AH. Cities and counties do not generally build the houses. However, we look to our city and County boards and planners to lead us into a future community where we can all afford to live and thrive. Contra Costa County 2015-2016 Grand Jury Report 1614 Page 21 Grand Jury Reports are posted at http://www.cc-courts.org/grandjury
• CL6
  An empty seat in the classroom means a child is not getting the education they deserve and need to succeed in life. The reason a child does not attend school regularly can vary, be complex and require significant support, or be as simple as needing a bus pass. If we never find out what the barrier is then we have failed to help that child receive the education they deserve. And if we do find out, but then lack the infrastructure or ability to help, then we have failed. The County has caring and competent school administrators who understand the importance of a child being in school. District superintendents and staff understand what is required of them. With the new LCAP, which requires more structure and purpose around taking attendance, many struggle with a lack of a well-developed strategy and infrastructure. Districts with certain (State designated) student populations qualify for LCFF funding and have an opportunity to use those funds to significantly reduce their chronically absent rates. Contra Costa County 2015-2016 Grand Jury Report 1615 Page 19 Grand Jury Reports are posted at http://www.cc-courts.org/grandjury The COE could provide strong leadership to train, facilitate and assist school districts in working more closely with each other to improve the County’s ADA. A higher ADA rate is a “win-win” result that deserves greater resources and attention by the districts and the COE. With a modest investment, and strong leadership the County can help the school districts improve their overall attendance. Attendance is not just something we should do but rather an indicator of how a child is doing in life. In this fast-paced modern society, there is little time to catch up once you fall behind. Early focus on elementary school attendance is a cost effective way to improve long- term educational outcomes, and in turn, improve lives. With a concerted effort and a designed plan, student attendance can improve. The County’s school districts should make sure they have done all they can to provide its children with the educational skills needed to compete and succeed in today’s rapidly changing world. Contra Costa County 2015-2016 Grand Jury Report 1615 Page 20 Grand Jury Reports are posted at http://www.cc-courts.org/grandjury

Agency Responses 7

Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.