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141 <br /> Dr. Brown asked if the refugees are connected with the International Rescue <br />Committee, and Mr. Cox said yes, and said the updated caseload is 46 now. <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown suggested having a conversation with IRC to see if there are others <br />ways to partner with them. <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Ms. Hamilton, Mr. Cox said that the cost of <br />interpreter services to serve refugees has tripled. He said the Department now has a <br />Spanish speaking worker to serve 70 families. He estimated that there are 50 families <br />served by the Department whose language is neither English nor Spanish. <br /> <br /> Responding to a question about the current relationship with IRC from Mr. <br />Caravati, Mr. Cox said that the Department is coordinating well with IRC now. <br /> <br /> Mr. Caravati encouraged the Advisory Board to focus on funding for TANF for <br />next year’s legislative package. He noted that a citizen recently defamed the Department <br />by saying in error that they administered $5 million in benefits when they actually <br />administer $50 million in benefits. Mr. Caravati asked if there is a plan to deal with the <br />issue of understaffing. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox said that the understaffing is business as usual in Social Services. He <br />said there is no real plan and efforts to get more money for staff from the General <br />Assembly has been unsuccessful. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch asked about the potential to increase salaries through additional <br />training. He said it sounds like TANF to poverty given the current salaries for clients. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox said he would not disagree with that statement. He said clients are better <br />off working than on TANF, but are not out of poverty. He said there is limited effective <br />job training as part of this program. He said it is possible that the State will include <br />education and training in the definition of work to a greater extent and that would be a <br />positive change. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch asked if the Department can follow up with clients to see if their <br />salaries increase, and Mr. Cox said the Department can work with them up to two years if <br />the clients choose. <br /> <br />RESOLUTION <br />: SETTING PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF PERCENTAGES <br />FOR 2006 <br /> <br /> Ms. Rosalyn Collins, Deputy Commissioner of Revenue, said that this resolution <br />will establish the percentage amount for 2006 and will be based on the fixed amount to be <br />received from the State. Ms. Collins said the recommendation is to set the relief <br />percentage at 53% except for vehicles valued $1000 or under which would qualify for <br />100% relief. <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Mr. Caravati, Ms. Collins said that she would <br />guess that the percentage of relief from the state would go down every year. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said Council talked about having a $2000 cutoff instead of $1000, and <br />asked what the impact would be if the cutoff was changed. <br /> <br /> Ms. Collins said it would decrease the percentage on other vehicles and there <br />would be less in the pool to distribute. <br /> <br /> On motion by Mr. Lynch, seconded by Ms. Hamilton, the Resolution Setting the <br />Personal Property Tax Relief Percentages for 2006 was approved by the following vote. <br />Ayes: Dr. Brown, Mr. Caravati, Ms. Hamilton, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Schilling. Noes: None. <br /> <br />WHEREAS <br />, the Personal Property Tax Relief Act of 1998, Virginia Code <br />§§58.1-3523 et seq. (“PPTRA”) has been substantially modified by the enactment of <br />Chapter 1 of the Acts of Assembly, 2004 Special Session I (Senate Bill 5005) and the <br /> <br />