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Cumberland County Children and Youth officials warn high congregate-care costs will keep county in 'overmatch' for coming years
Summary
Children and Youth Services officials told commissioners that higher per‑diems for congregate care and a small number of long‑term, high‑cost placements are driving a near‑term budget shortfall and that the department requested one new full‑time emergency duty supervisor for nights and weekends.
Cumberland County Children and Youth Services officials on Aug. 21 told the Board of Commissioners that rising costs for congregate care placements and a handful of very high‑cost cases have driven the department into an “overmatch” situation and will keep pressure on local budgets in the next fiscal years. Nikki Bress and Children and Youth staff briefed commissioners on the department’s needs‑based budget for fiscal 2026–27 and on spending trends through fiscal 2024–25. Staff reported that expenses increased by about $3.4 million between fiscal 2023–24 and 2024–25 and that the county ended fiscal 2024–25 with roughly $31 million in Children and Youth expenses — higher than the $29 million used by the state to certify county allocations for that period. That difference contributed to an overmatch, staff…
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