Human Services staff told the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners on Oct. 14 that recent federal changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (HR1) are likely to shift costs to states and counties, and recommended the county support two Colorado ballot measures that could help mitigate local impacts.

Mary Berg and Gina Sagan of Jefferson County Human Services presented a summary of HR1 and its likely effects: administrative funding for SNAP could shift from 50% federal to 25% federal (with the state and counties absorbing the remainder), and federal funding for some SNAP benefits and programs could shift to the state on a sliding scale tied to statewide performance measures. Human Services staff estimated a local administrative impact of about $2,000,000 annually beginning October 2026 and an estimated $9,300,000 impact related to benefit‑funding shifts starting October 2027, depending on state actions.

Staff explained the state program Healthy School Meals for All (HSMA), created after 2022’s Proposition FF, and described two November ballot measures that affect HSMA and funding. Proposition LL, staff said, would allow the State to retain and spend an existing $12,400,000 balance in the HSMA cash fund. A companion measure (as amended by a recent special session) would permit additional uses of HSMA surplus funds — including outreach and SNAP implementation assistance — if the reserve reaches 35% of obligations. Human Services staff recommended that the board express support for the two measures as fiscally responsible actions that could mitigate county impacts from HR1. The board voted unanimously to approve the resolution supporting the measures.

Commissioners expressed support during the meeting. The resolution is a policy statement of the board’s preference; any actual mitigation of HR1’s fiscal impact depends on future state legislative and administrative actions and on voter approval of the ballot measures.

Votes: The board approved hearing regular agenda item 10.2 (resolution supporting the statewide measures) by recorded aye votes from Commissioners Kerr, Zenzinger and Dahlkemper.