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County accepts large Youth Development Program increase; sets allocation method and early disbursement
Summary
The county accepted a large increase in Youth Development Program funds on Sept. 2, approved a distribution method that gives each community a $4,500 base and apportions the balance by youth population, and authorized a Clifton Park contract after officials said that town’s allocation exceeded $15,000.
The Health and Human Services Committee on Sept. 2 accepted an increased state allocation for the Youth Development Program (YDP), approved the county’s proposed distribution method and authorized a contract with the Town of Clifton Park to accept its portion of funds that exceeded the county’s minor‑contract threshold.
Presenter Sandy Aniston told supervisors the county received a substantial increase in YDP funding for the coming year; she described the total in the meeting as roughly $202,100 and said that figure represents about a 75% increase from the prior year. To allocate the additional money, staff proposed giving each town or community a $4,500 base and then dividing the remaining funds by youth population in each municipality. Aniston noted five community centers that provide after‑school drop‑in services have historically been held to $10,000 each; the new allocation approach starts all recipients at a $4,500 base and then apportions the rest by population, with specifics included in the backup materials distributed to supervisors.
Because the state year runs October–September and the county was catching up to the state schedule, staff asked to amend the county budget to include a quarter of each town’s 2026 allocation in the current fiscal year so towns could fund fall activities. Aniston said the YDP program is reimbursement‑based (towns spend first and then seek reimbursement) and that the county will issue year‑long contracts. The spending deadline for the funds was stated as Sept. 30 of the next year.
Aniston also requested authorization to enter into an agreement with the Town of Clifton Park to accept its YDP funds because Clifton Park’s allocation exceeded the county’s $15,000 threshold for minor contracts. The committee approved the budget amendment, the distribution approach and the Clifton Park contract by voice vote.
Why it matters: The YDP supports after‑school and youth programs across the county; the larger allocation and the decision to advance a quarter of each town’s allocation into the current year will allow towns to provide fall programming that otherwise would have had to wait until the new year.
Implementation notes: Towns will receive year‑long contracts, operate on a reimbursement model, and have until Sept. 30 of the following year to spend the funds. Staff said they will notify municipalities of exact award amounts and timing.
