Sawyer County veterans officer reports July claims, warns state cuts limit county options

Veterans Service Officer Mike Elliott told the Sawyer County Administration Committee that his office processed 97 disability claims in July with retroactive payments of $256,348.16 and continues outreach through the La Crosse Vet Center and monthly "coffee and conversation" sessions.

The report, presented July (date not specified), showed July activity of 419 phone calls, 596 written contacts and 213 office visits. Elliott said his office’s operating budget was $211,491 (amended) for the prior year, with $187,152 expended to date, and that the office routinely operates under budget.

Elliott said the number of claims filed does not directly map to dollars returned because some claims contain many individual items and because the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) processing timing varies. "The number of claims does not necessarily correlate to the output as far as the initial payout," Elliott said. He added that a single claim can include dozens of separate items that each must be researched.

The officer said the county hosts group and individual counseling through the La Crosse Vet Center and occasionally provides space and technical support for VA telehealth visits. ‘‘Those are provided by federal employees, for the most part out of La Crosse,’’ Elliott said. ‘‘We support the federal VA when they’re not able to — their tech, whatever — at the clinic or the clinic is closed.’’

Elliott said annualized benefits returned to the county from successful claims are substantial; his remarks estimated about $24–25 million in benefits flowing to residents of Sawyer County in a typical year. He cautioned that that statewide program changes are limiting options: he described recent closures of state veterans homes in Chippewa Falls and another near Green Bay and said only one remaining state-run home in Union Grove remains available in the region.

Asked what the county can do, Elliott said local options are limited and urged officials to press state leaders. ‘‘To push this information back to the governor,’’ he said, noting the decision to close homes rested with the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs.

Committee member Miss Cecil thanked Elliott for his work and emphasized community impact: "I think today you got a little glimpse of what I've seen, the heart behind the man, and his impact extends beyond Sawyer County," she said.

Elliott also outlined a previously requested perpetual-care grant for veterans’ graves and said the county has been covering perpetual care historically; he indicated it may require additional funding in the future. He noted training for staff is current and described the office's conservative use of its operating budget.

No formal committee action or vote on budget increases or new grants was taken during the report. Elliott said he is awaiting state and federal reports that break down disbursements by county before producing a comprehensive annual report.

The committee asked for a brief timeline and additional budget information to be included in forthcoming strategic-plan materials.