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County administrator briefs committee on federal, state funding changes; CDBG grant executed
Summary
County Administrator Dan Grady told the Executive Committee July 15 that a $50,000 CDBG planning grant has been executed and that federal budget changes are likely to remove Medicaid coverage from hundreds of county residents, increasing pressure on local services.
County Administrator Dan Grady updated the Executive Committee on federal and state budget changes, grant activity, and likely local impacts at the July 15 meeting.
Grady said a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) planning grant for $50,000 was executed the previous day, enabling the county to hire Northwest Regional for planning work. He also summarized federal budget measures that will affect local programs: cuts to Medicaid and SNAP (food-share) programs and changes that reduce federal subsidies for the Affordable Care Act marketplace. Grady said the county expects about 244 people in Ashland County could lose Medicaid coverage as a result of federal changes, and he warned this would likely increase HHS caseloads and put more financial pressure on rural hospitals and county services.
Grady reported additional state actions: shared revenue is projected to increase 3.4% next year and 2.1% the following year; the state fully funded certain conservation grants covering Mary Jo's position (100% for one position, 70% and 50% for two others); increases in transportation aids and LRIP were noted; and the legislature created a county aid program for counties with a federally recognized tribe that will provide roughly $183,000 per county under the program.
Grady also noted relief on a cost item: a proposed $2,400 daily charge for sending a youth to Lincoln Hills was amended down to $400 per day. He summarized that although some state funding increases were achieved, cuts at the federal level—along with sequestration effects on Medicare—could increase local health-care costs and homelessness pressure, and the county will continue monitoring impacts.
Ending: The administrator said staff will provide more detailed budget materials at upcoming finance meetings and flagged October 1 as the Medicare/federal budget effective date for some changes; the committee asked for a deeper finance briefing at its next meeting.
