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Audit and Control Committee approves $2.14 million amendment to cover preschool special‑needs program costs
Summary
The committee approved Resolution 56 to amend the 2024 public health budget after officials said preschool special‑needs contracts, transportation and one‑to‑one aides drove costs higher; average annual per‑child costs ranged from about $28,000 to $43,000.
Chautauqua County’s Audit and Control Committee on Thursday approved Resolution 56 to amend the Public Health 2024 budget to cover higher‑than‑expected costs in the county’s preschool special‑needs program.
Public health officials told the committee that contractual costs for outside preschool providers, transportation and one‑to‑one aides exceeded the 2024 estimate. Diana Songer, deputy director of finance for Human Services, said the request increases the use of fund balance by $960,920, raises appropriation accounts by $2,143,913, decreases other appropriations by $206,268 and increases revenue accounts by $976,725.
Lacey Wilson, public health director, described the program: it serves children ages roughly 3 to 5 who require additional therapeutic services such as speech, occupational and physical therapy. Wilson said many school districts cannot provide specialized classrooms, so the county contracts with private preschool providers and must provide transportation; she added that an increased share of referrals now require one‑to‑one aides who ride buses with children and attend the school day with them.
“The children who are a part of this program ... often need therapeutic services,” Wilson said. She told the committee that the county expected catch‑up demand following service disruptions during COVID‑19 and that more children are entering the program at higher need levels, which pushed costs above original estimates.
Deputy County Medical Officer Mike Faltz said the caseload included some higher‑need children and that county predictions for 2025 are better informed; he and Wilson said they expect budget planning improvements for next year.
Committee members pressed officials on per‑child costs and caseload changes. Officials reported the average annual tuition range for 2023–24 ran from about $28,000 to $43,000 per child depending on provider and services, and that the number of children in the program rose by roughly 100 over the period referenced. Wilson said tuition rates rose about $2,000 from the prior year — roughly a 10% increase — and added that providers are seeing increased need for one‑to‑one aides and higher‑level therapy.
The committee approved the amendment by voice vote; no roll call tally was recorded in the meeting minutes.
