[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6455928,"mediaKeyId","5711666-78832baf679775f17f4965a8d3b2d702","parentId",5711666,"title","Ashland County human services board approves 2026 budget; staff outline program, SNAP and Medicaid concerns","audioSeconds",966,"startMs",129000,"endMs",1095000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5711666-78832baf679775f17f4965a8d3b2d702&start=129&end=1095","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5711666-78832baf679775f17f4965a8d3b2d702/thumbnail_129000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6455928/Ashland-County/Wisconsin/Ashland-County-human-services-board-approves-2026-budget-staff-outline-program-SNAP-and-Medicaid-concerns","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6455928-04b5bb40ee6fd0eebe55d4f713ab4f40/orig.mp4?Expires=1771057148&Signature=Rye~UUZ3PVl6e~O594nOgnmfN88vHAFjPhxj8-xxQh9i7OvwbckW3zBrhO8KbGWnrWb-LTwbhZe18vSu9~7pqUSWKziApp8soGgHBZbDhSlY5fazYaaacmZzyZ3UXryRR0SYreVeFkRsxBOnZAUXPMp8zR5HqVMBzP7CmJjPnzMsLSTAxH8MhgGlQG~N8SAr29ge6Krsg6LuGlIQ1CgRtdzStDDSoa-Yxup7Flcef-6M1yAaibYRZ9WoXFqXsCM9XmCqu48XCt0ZcACqfCNkKOOCyy2rdAIgitnUMwxs7MTeOou-gADp33Pl8O6gp-7yDRUkYIYHfRs4W~Wnut15Hw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Ashland County, WI ","date","2025-09-03T22:24:58.22Z","article","The Ashland County Human Services Board approved the department’s 2026 budget and voted to forward a resolution urging greater state investment in income maintenance administration.

Board members approved the budget after a presentation on year-to-date finances showing revenues and expenditures through June 30. Amber, who presented the financial reports, said the county’s spending is tracking close to last year and that she had “no red flags” from the midyear review. The board voted to submit the budget to the county finance committee; the motion was made by George Boussier and seconded by Doctor Keller and carried unanimously by voice vote.

Why it matters: staff said the budget request includes a modest levy increase largely to cover step increases for wages. Separately, human services staff described program changes and state policy shifts that could increase county costs in 2026–2027, including federal SNAP match changes and a local decision to let one certification lapse because there were no clients.

Key details

- Budget status and levy: Amber said the year-to-date report covers expenses and revenues through June 30 and that the department is “right on track.” The proposed 2026 budget includes a small increase in the levy request to cover step increases in wages; retirements and hiring at lower steps tempered the final amount. The board approved the 2026 budget and forwarded it to finance (motion by George Boussier; second by Doctor Keller). Outcome: approved.

- ADRC line-item variance: Board members asked about an apparent large percentage variance in the ADRC line. Amber explained the variance reflects small-dollar budget lines (for example, a $333 budget item with $1,000 in expenses), and that reimbursements during the year will change the final figures.

- Community Support Program (CSP) / Comprehensive Community Services (CCS): Human services staff explained the county will no longer be certified for the older community support program (CSP), because the county has not had clients served under that certification since CCS has been providing the needed services. Staff said CCS is the rehabilitative program now serving clients and that the state indicated it would not continue certifying CSP if the county is not actively serving clients; staff said the county can reapply for CSP certification if demand returns. The budget continues to assume a 97% reimbursement rate from CCS (staff noted historical reimbursements were about 99.9% through 2023).

- SNAP and Medicaid funding changes: Human services staff summarized anticipated federal and state changes that could shift costs to counties. Staff said changes planned to take effect in part in October 2026 would alter cost-match arrangements for certain administrative reimbursements; staff characterized the likely effect as counties bearing more of the cost (one example provided by staff: a much larger county in the consortium, Wood County, estimated roughly $43,000 in impact from this change). The board was told that direct service levels for clients are not expected to change immediately for 2026, but administrative costs and verification workload could increase in later years.

Board action and next steps

- Motion to approve the 2026 budget and submit it to finance: motion by George Boussier; seconded by Doctor Keller. Vote: aye; motion carries.

- Resolution on income maintenance funding: the board approved a resolution encouraging state investment in income maintenance administration and forwarded the resolution to the full county board for consideration. Motion to accept and forward was seconded by Elizabeth Franck; vote: aye; motion carries.

What board members asked and emphasized

Supervisors questioned line-item variances and asked staff to confirm small numeric entries. Several members pressed staff on the future administrative workload tied to SNAP and Medicaid changes, noting verification requirements and potential staffing impacts. One member said the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Wisconsin Human Services Association intend to push the state for additional funding rather than shifting full cost burdens to counties.

Ending

Staff said they will continue monitoring reimbursements and program demand and will report back as the state clarifies implementation timelines for federal and state policy changes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","08/27/2025 Ashland County Health and Human Services Board Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Ashland County Human Services Board approved the department’s 2026 budget and voted to forward a resolution urging greater state investment in income maintenance administration.","taxTitle","Ashland County, Wisconsin","taxId",72843,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6455918,"Board urges broader health-and-human-services content in Ashland County comprehensive plan, highlights Spark prevention program",60,1360000,1420000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5711666-78832baf679775f17f4965a8d3b2d702&start=1360&end=1420","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5711666-78832baf679775f17f4965a8d3b2d702/thumbnail_1360000.jpg","/articles/6455918/Ashland-County/Wisconsin/Board-urges-broader-health-and-human-services-content-in-Ashland-County-comprehensive-plan-highlights-Spark-prevention-program","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6455918-5d32d51c248965ebe77ffb8efd5d1290/orig.mp4?Expires=1771057148&Signature=E4xbfyWWQItLHPrKYiqx8mRidOgbqJc5cJDLrVuPn7QDpJnehmcoUR9Qxa2yReUNKfmMr25PePInoijweu~P448zoJ2OKv~oElo7ETLQg5uzKgwFwJsEB6mW1miFKca2~uWCM0W9nVw9xzpgeVP~GAbocCii47I-O8L0oauVi3APul-URFZds32OhEaW8sHmQileUwZhNUVLjqIOduQnHCWI4EZkN9UesuTUCZAZATVwp0VMqhI0BwzFwwpVTManY7uja2h44vW0zhMyuxobxgZUWFUQLlzr5wFLZFHRZWCklZYc5IGsHiAboPcZIivjiXytJu~xLJLPHWcrIkc23w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During an open discussion to gather input for the Ashland County comprehensive plan update, supervisors urged stronger inclusion of health and human services and recommended that the planning committee consider sustainability for the Spark prevention program.

Charlie Ortman was identified as taking on drafting a health-and-human-services section for the comprehensive plan; supervisors said he will coordinate with staff (Terry) and may use materials already included in the meeting packet as background. One supervisor asked that the planning and visioning process explicitly consider ways to keep the Spark program viable as a county-supported prevention resource, saying that prevention spending may reduce downstream costs for corrections, health care and treatment.

No formal board action was taken; the item was recorded as an open discussion for input to the county board planning committee.

Ending

Staff and supervisors said they will continue coordinating and that Ortman will follow up with committee staff for draft language and sourcing of background materials.","Supervisors asked the county planning committee to strengthen health-and-human-services content in the forthcoming comprehensive plan update and urged that the county consider ways to sustain the Spark prevention program as part of long-term planning.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6455923,"Ashland County public health announces SCIP grant, measles monitoring, flu clinics and overdose-awareness outreach",145,1520000,1665000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5711666-78832baf679775f17f4965a8d3b2d702&start=1520&end=1665","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5711666-78832baf679775f17f4965a8d3b2d702/thumbnail_1520000.jpg","/articles/6455923/Ashland-County/Wisconsin/Ashland-County-public-health-announces-SCIP-grant-measles-monitoring-flu-clinics-and-overdose-awareness-outreach","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6455923-2ca011c3b6afd90e236d27fdb67753a6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771057148&Signature=GXN9Sr5FoBeMkOTXKB2eiKPRh-r-jFKGXFsRDMEzaygfJvJe5g~WcG2h8BIrq1Ma~sC8arew81zOvYOG3m13QL7cFtvHspTyRdmyZsaU2lDpvJ5ArAedDyJYMtDoPVnmMYMKUVapYrwDxT7x7DTfvtuM3Vy39p8YPX242Rs4gtZsmBFO8ZL67Z6qGig5gZF9EO6pnFtasrJ5qm5Eund14rZwEFC020E-6b-r~34DOKjXWuBjZ6WCChQuzK9E5ZkyYouYPOnP4FJCEqg~dWXp7hOCysRuNj8voMxhfDjJhlLr4nDn6MkdZi3EoVFftIW16Orq4djH6ujhLeiCZhrSdA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Ashland County public health staff reported several program updates, including a new Wisconsin Department of Justice State Crisis Intervention Program (SCIP) grant for hunter safety education, preparations for seasonal flu clinics, a successful state water lab inspection, and regional overdose-awareness outreach.

The board heard that the county was awarded a SCIP grant for the project period Sept. 1, 2025, through Sept. 30, 2026. Public health staff said the grant will fund educational outreach and that the county plans to contract with the North Wisconsin Rod and Gun Club to offer hunter safety education courses hosted at participating school districts. Staff estimated the contract allowance at “just over $17,000” to cover training materials, supplies, class enrollment and certification costs.

Seasonal vaccinations and disease monitoring

Public health staff said flu clinics are being scheduled for workplaces, schools and public locations; this year’s vaccine prices were stated as $35 for the regular dose and $85 for the high-dose vaccine for people 65 and older. The county completed its state water laboratory inspection with only minor documentation corrective actions underway.

Measles: staff reported there are currently 21 confirmed measles cases in Wisconsin, all located in Oconto County; 62 percent of cases are aged 5–17 and one person has been hospitalized. Public health staff said all confirmed cases were unvaccinated and that the county is sharing information with local school districts and preparing for potential exposures.

International Overdose Awareness Week and harm-reduction outreach

Public health staff described local overdose-awareness activities coordinated by the Chequamegon Bay committee and partners. The county placed three billboards — two on Highway 13 north and south and one on East Highway 2 — and is participating in a radio advertising campaign in partnership with Iron County and Bayfield County. Staff identified community events on Aug. 28 (Bad River harm reduction building, 5–7 p.m.) and Aug. 30 (Red Cliff, 1–4 p.m.) and said drop-in centers and tribal partners will host additional local events.

What was not decided

No board action or formal votes were taken on the public health items; staff asked supervisors to note outreach opportunities and to share event information with constituents.

Ending

Public health staff said official SCIP paperwork is pending; once received, staff will proceed with contracting and class scheduling.","Public health staff reported a state SCIP grant for hunter safety education, scheduled flu clinics, a successful state water lab inspection, 21 confirmed measles cases in Wisconsin (all in Oconto County), and coordinated International Overdose Awareness Week outreach across regional partners.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Ashland County human services board approves 2026 budget; staff outline program, SNAP and Medicaid concerns

Board urges broader health-and-human-services content in Ashland County comprehensive plan, highlights Spark prevention program

Ashland County public health announces SCIP grant, measles monitoring, flu clinics and overdose-awareness outreach