A land of contrast

Goochland is a land of contrast

Every so often, someone drags out Goochland’s per capita income, $82,326, and asks why such a “rich” county does not have things like universal broadband. That figure is computed by dividing the incomes of all residents by the number of people that live here. When you only have about 23,000 people and a relative handful of those are CEOs, professional athletes; doctors, lawyers, and common and garden rich folk, the result does not reflect reality.

Where you live in Goochland makes a difference in your economic condition, according to statistics presented by Sally Graham, Executive Director of Goochland Cares. The average income for zipcode 23103 is $104k annually; for 20363 $68k; and 23038 $28k. One current supervisor noted that when first campaigning for office, he found that some of his constituents had dirt floors and others marble.

County government revenue is primarily derived from real estate and personal property taxes, whose rates are the same for every resident of Goochland. The current Supervisors, who adopt the annual budget and sets the tax rates, are mindful of the tax burden on each payer. While the real estate tax of 53 cents per $100 of valuation might be chump change for the affluent, some Goochlanders struggle to meet their local tax obligations.

Spending priorities for county government, as also determined by the supervisors, are schools, public safety, and health and human services. The latter encompasses the Department of Social Services; the Office of Children’s Services; Goochland Powhatan Community Services; the Goochland Health Department; Pamunkey Regional Library; and Goochland Cares. The budget for FY2019, which began on July 1, allocated $5,687,908 for this function.

At its December 4 meeting, the Board heard presentations from these agencies. The county  partners with other local non-profit groups to leverage resources to provide a wide range of support for those with social and economic challenges. The focus of many of the program is improving the lot of children.

Kimberley Jefferson, Director of the Department  of Social Services, reported that her department works closely with other agencies to deliver benefits to those eligible and help them find ways to have successful lives. State and federal programs administered by the DSS are governed by a complex array of rules and regulations. Just one of these, annual confirmation of Medicaid eligibility was so difficult a few years back that the county was “gigged” on its annual audit for failure to meet deadlines. Since then, Jefferson and her staff have worked hard to remedy the issue.

 The big unknown for her department is Medicaid expansion. So far, said Jefferson, her office has not received the onslaught of new applications it was expecting. She speculated that this is because the state was trying to help people enroll by mail. Jefferson cautioned that some people may not have followed through on the state enrollment and will seek to enroll locally in coming weeks.

Programs administered by DSS include TANF (temporary assistance for needy families) which helps needy family achieve self-sufficiency; SNAP (supplemental nutrition assistance program); and Community Action Programs, in additional to Medicaid.

Future challenges to DSS include looming staff retirements—navigating the myriad of state and federal assistance programs is complicated and takes years to learn—and a shrinking pool of qualified candidates;  dealing with Medicaid expansion and possible work requirements; fallout from the opioid epidemic; and implementation of the Families First Prevention Act next October.

The Goochland Powhatan Community Action Agency provides services to people with mental health, substance abuse, and developmental challenges. This year, it sponsored three classes on the use of Naloxone for overdoses; two classes for mental health first aid, and five classes for youth mental health first aid.

Mental health issues are at the root of many problems, but this agency does something to mitigate them and connect people with needed help.

The Goochland Health Department provides clinical services; protects environmental health (restaurant inspections and issues well and septic system permits); and has special programs including emergency preparedness and vital statistics. Visit http://goochlandva.us/355/Health-Department for complete information.

For some reason, the Pamunkey Regional Library is included in this category. It provides traditional library services including circulation of reading and other materials in hard copy or electronically;  enrichment programs; story times; a community meeting space; and promoting lifelong literacy. As a sign of the times, the Goochland Branch Library also has a supply of free drug disposal kits, which destroy opioids with the addition of water.

Library cards are free and provide access to a wide range of materials

Recently, 3D printing was added to its services. For a nominal fee, a patron can submit software for printing, which occurs in Mechanicsville and the finished product will be delivered to the Goochland Branch Library in a few days. PRL Director Tom Shepley explained that this is an easy way to replace a missing board game piece using open source software.

If you do not have a library card—they are free to all Goochland residents—visit the library or www.pamunkeylibrary.org/ for more information.

GoochlandCares, whose mission is to provide heath care and basic human services to Goochland residents in need. Those served last year had incomes up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level, $24,600 for a family of four. Nine percent of Goochland children live in poverty.

Graham reported that the new facility, which opened earlier this year, and placed all of its services under a single accessible roof, makes it easier for clients to use services. A medical visit, she said, could also include a trip to the food pantry and clothes closet. “We have more visibility, more clients, more volunteers, and more success stories,” Graham said.

GooclandCares will work to ensure that Medicaid recipients, and the under-insured continue to have a medical home.

An overview  can be found in the county needs assessment report at: http://goochlandva.us/DocumentCenter/View/3966/Community-Needs-Assessment-Report

Goochlanders are generous all year long. Merry Christmas!