Washington County supervisors warn of daycare funding shortfall, approve wait list; direct work on Code Blue resolution and several budget items

Washington County Board of Supervisors’ Human Services Committee was told Tuesday that recent state eligibility expansions for childcare assistance and guaranteed payment rules have driven the county toward a funding shortfall, prompting the committee to authorize starting a wait list for new applicants unless the state reallocates rollover federal funds or provides additional aid.

The childcare funding briefing said current enrollment and the state’s requirement to guarantee payments for 12 months — plus paying up to 80 absences per child per year — mean Washington County is projecting a gap of roughly $250,000 unless the state reallocates rollover money already available to counties. County staff said the state’s rollover allocation “should be in excess of a million dollars” but that local officials had not yet received formal notice that the funds would be released to the county.

The committee voted to initiate the wait list and to send a strong message to Albany seeking the rollover funds; members discussed notifying affected families and suggested including the governor’s office contact information in outreach. Staff said current recipients who reach recertification while a wait list is in effect would not be guaranteed prioritization and that, as described in the meeting, those recertified could be placed on the same queue as new applicants.

Why it matters: The county’s daycare assistance program helps working families pay for childcare by directly paying providers. A sustained shortfall would affect families’ ability to keep childcare while continuing employment; staff warned that opening a wait list could lead to service interruptions for families at recertification.

Other budget and program updates drew committee action. Department of Social Services staff said preschool services were…