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Wayne County veterans director says state miscalculation slashes grant; county may consider budget adjustment
Summary
Wayne County Director of Veterans Affairs Randy Walker told commissioners a state recalculation cut the county’s expected veterans grant from about $821,500 to $304,000, leaving the county without funds to assist peacetime veterans for the remainder of the fiscal year and prompting discussion of a possible county budget adjustment.
Randy Walker, director of Wayne County Veterans Affairs, told commissioners the county faced a large cut to its annual state veterans grant after a statewide recalculation. Walker said he was told in September the county would receive about $821,500; state officials later notified the county the correct allotment is $304,000.
“We’ve already spent 304,000. So what that means right now, we can’t help any peacetime veterans,” Walker said. He described purchases and expenses already covered by the grant, including $200,000 in Meyer food cards and assistance for utilities and burials.
Walker said the grant supports two employees in his office—identified in the meeting as a clerk and a social service specialist—and that the county has been using the grant to pay their salaries. He told commissioners the office told state officials it could accept a reduced award of $493,000 if the state would provide an additional amount to cover $110,000 for advertising the department’s mobile van and about $86,000 to fund the two employees’ salaries for quarters three and four of the fiscal year.
Commissioners responded by urging a prompt county budget adjustment if the state does not restore funding. Commissioner Killeen said, “to say right now, we need to have a budget adjustment,” and voiced support for moving quickly to cover the shortfall. Walker said the county expected an answer from the state within a week of a recent meeting.
Nut Graf: The recalculation affects veterans’ services because the county had already committed and spent grant funds under the expectation of a larger award. Without additional state funds or a county budget adjustment, Walker said his office cannot provide non-wartime (peacetime) veterans with assistance through the grant for the rest of the fiscal year.
Walker also said the recalculation affected all counties in the state: “They miscalculated for the whole state.” Commissioners discussed possible next steps, including returning to the commission at the next meeting with an update. Chair and other commissioners said they would explore ways to support the veterans office while the county awaits the state’s response.
Ending: Walker said he will follow up with the state and return to the commission with an update; commissioners signaled support for a budget adjustment if state funding is not provided.
