Travis County Commissioners Court
December 19, 2006
Item 6
6. Consider and take appropriate action on request for county to assist the community tax centers with filing for earned income tax credits by eligible Travis County residents. We have annually assisted the -- the community centers with this and we in the past have covered the printing. As well as the cost of the interpreters, right?
>> that's correct, judge. Health and human services has made the appropriate transfers to print shop for last year about $7,000 in printing costs, then another additional --
>> are you ms. Keck? Come up here and get comfortable. We may have a question or two for you. Sorry to cut you off.
>> I'm sorry, sherri flemming, executive manager for health and human services and veterans service. The health and human services has made the appropriate transfers for about $7,000 in printing costs to cover what was requested last year by the tax centers. In addition there was another I believe about $8,000 in interpreter costs and those costs basically come from times when if there's not county staff available, then we have to use contract services so that's how we track those costs and what the costs to the county is for those interpreters being used by the centers. So -- so about $15,000 that have -- that was absorbed in 2006 by health and human services for this request.
>> okay. Now,.
>> 15,000?
>> 15,000.
>> what you have this year is about 7,000.
>> what I have this year is about 7, yes.
>> now, in response to the request from ms. Keck, I checked with our print shop, looks like the print shop can do the required printing for paper and the other real costs of about 1300, that was an e-mail. We would have to absorb the later from last year. What this does not address, though, is whether there are interpreter costs. I think the commitment that ms. Flemming wants from us is that if she spends her 7,000 and there are still interpreter needs, then the Commissioners court will support her. Is that -- am I --
>> that's correct. The interpreter costs you know kind of vary. Generally we have a line item that covers not only our staffing, but also the use of temporary interpreters. And so toward the end of the budget year, should we fall short we would, you know, appreciate your receptiveness to our discussion on that.
>> I move approval.
>> that basically is for us to do printing, provide the interpreter costs and if we exceed the $7,000 come back to the Commissioners court.
>> yes.
>> for those looking at this and wondering what's going on annually, community foundation communities worked with other non-profits, the city, the county, and a whole lot of other people to help us identify needy Travis County residents that really are eligible for this credit but historically have not filed. And for the last four or five years, we have been helping to get out the word of this opportunity and help them complete the necessary paper working to claim the credit, right? We have been getting a substantial amount of -- of refunds here, $13 million last year, and we think that if we work real hard we can exceed that amount this year.
>> that's true.
>> don't let me put words in your mouth. Go ahead. Any additional comments for us.
>> good morning, everyone. I just wanted to thank Commissioners, especially judge Biscoe and Commissioner Daugherty for your help with this program. Last year we were able to do about 10,200 tax returns, that got back about $13 million collars in refunds and tax credits, on top of what local families save on, you know, what they would have spent at a for profit tax preparer, which is hundreds of dollars plus a lot of times families want a -- you know, they want their refund right now. So they go for rapid refund loans that end up costing them even more. By providing them free e filing and other free tax services we are able to save them a lot of money. So -- so this support from Travis County really helps us with our outreach. It's a -- the majority of our flier outreach which really contributes to the word of mouth that helps keep this program going. Thank you.
>> this would basically authorize the print shop to go ahead and do the printing, share the invoice with the county judge, I will share it with the court later on. All in favor of the motion, that passes by unanimous vote. Let us know and we will make up whatever difference there is.
>> thank you, ms. Keck.
>> okay.
The Closed Caption log for this Commissioners Court agenda item is provided by Travis County Internet Services. Since this file is derived from the Closed Captions created during live cablecasts, there are occasional spelling and grammatical errors. This Closed Caption log is not an official record the Commissioners Court Meeting and cannot be relied on for official purposes. For official records please contact the County Clerk at (512) 854-4722.
Last Modified:
Tuesday, December 19, 2006 8:51 PM