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Q&A
Impact of federal funding cuts on APS operations and services
1:25:29
ยท
123 sec
Council Member Hudson asks about the potential impact of federal funding cuts on APS's ability to operate and what services would be affected. Chief Special Services Officer Rojas explains the current funding structure and the approach to handling potential cuts.
- 46% (or $29 million) of APS's annual budget comes from federal funding, primarily through the social services block grant
- HRA is assessing all services to determine priorities in case of funding cuts
- A brainstorming roundtable has been convened with community providers and sister agencies
- The aim is to look holistically at all services offered across DSS and the city to better leverage any potential cuts
Crystal Hudson
1:25:29
Can you share how federal funding cuts would impact APS's ability to operate?
1:25:34
What services would be impacted by any such cuts?
John Rojas
1:25:38
So sure.
1:25:39
As as I stated previously, 46% or 29,000,000 or 46% of our annual budget is federal.
1:25:50
Some primarily from the social services block grant.
1:26:03
So
Crystal Hudson
1:26:03
Sorry.
1:26:03
Just Sure.
1:26:04
Technical problem.
1:26:05
Give me one second.
1:26:19
Alright.
1:26:19
Sorry.
1:26:20
Sure.
John Rojas
1:26:22
But 46% of our funding for APS is through the social services block grant, that's a pass through through the state, the Office of Child and Family Services.
1:26:34
For HRA APS services are critical.
1:26:37
So holistically we're looking at all of our services at HRA and see how all the funding cuts would shake out for us.
1:26:43
See what is more critical, what is, I don't want to say less critical, but what what pecking order they would be, and then we have to make tough decisions.
1:26:52
So that assessment process is in play, our commissioner has convened already a brainstorming roundtable with our community providers and other sister agencies to try to assess what are the the highest level or what is the input from our community and what are the most critical services that they're seeing and then we'll look at our data.
1:27:16
And if we do get a cut, I mean tough decisions will have to be made but we want to look at it holistically.
1:27:21
What are all the services that are being offered not just at HRA but across DSS and across the city to better leverage any cuts that we may get from the federal government.
Crystal Hudson
1:27:29
Okay.
1:27:29
Thank you.
1:27:29
And council member Lee will have a follow-up question.