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 projected to be about $456,000 over budget for 2024, with revenue reimbursements offsetting approximately $271,000 (expected net county cost roughly $185,000). Early Intervention services were projected over budget by about $168,000, with an expected state reimbursement leaving an estimated county cost of about $86,000. The committee directed those funding needs to finance for further handling.

Committee members also approved sending a budget amendment request for competency restoration expenses (noted in the meeting as a line originally budgeted at $200,000 but with actual charges that require an amendment) to finance. Committee discussion referenced statewide concern that counties are absorbing rising restoration and other mandated costs and noted ongoing advocacy at the state level.

Homelessness and Code Blue: Supervisors discussed a draft resolution modeled on Cortland County’s Code Blue advocacy. The proposed measure would urge the state to increase funding for Code Blue sheltering, and to establish stronger cross-agency partnerships so county departments and state agencies share design and accountability for shelter services. Committee members asked staff to refine the draft to include recommended operational parameters (for example, behavioral supports and shelter conduct expectations) and to circulate the draft for legal review and finance committee consideration ahead of the March full board meeting.

Food and aging services: Representatives reporting on the county’s food pantry contract with a community agency (regional food bank partner) said food pantry usage rose about 23% year-over-year in 2024 and that pantry managers report more unhoused households, single-parent households and households on fixed incomes seeking assistance. The agency said gleaning pickups from a local grocery (Market 32) have declined in recent months and that staff are pursuing other stores and solutions to improve donated food supplies. The same contractor also reported on transportation services tied to Office for the Aging contracts and noted minor data inconsistencies being investigated in the quarterly report.

Office for the Aging items: The committee heard that the county’s Office for the Aging will host a March 14 March for Meals event (RSVP deadline March 7) to showcase the central kitchen and home-delivered meals operation. Staff also described a temporary gap in registered dietitian (RD) coverage after an RD contract ended; the office intends to pursue an MOU with the Association on Aging to secure RD services short term while pursuing an RFP to hire an in-person RD for Washington County.

Grants and procurement: The committee approved applications or letters of intent for small grants (Walmart Foundation, up to $5,000, for emergency preparedness) and for a longer-term family health coordination grant (Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs/FID program; annual award noted in the meeting as $57,916 for a five-year period beginning Oct. 1, 2025). The committee also accepted a state award to pilot a court-based mental health navigator (Alta Middle College funding of $85,718) and gave direction to seek a procurement path: possible joint RFP with Warren County or a contract waiver if staff recommend a specific vetted vendor.

Court and criminal-justice costs: County staff informed the committee of high and unpredictable charges for competency restoration placements, noting the county initially budgeted $200,000 in 2024 but now needs an amendment for significantly higher actual expenditures. Committee members referenced statewide discussions and proposed legislation to reduce long-term county financial exposure for people who are judged not restorable.

Votes at a glance - Acceptance of previous meeting minutes — Moved by Sam; seconded by Jim; outcome: passed. - Motion to divert 2024 unspent ARPA carryover amounts for foster care and daycare to finance for finalization — moved and seconded in committee; outcome: passed (mover not specified in transcript excerpt). - Motion to begin a wait list for daycare assistance unless the state notifies the county of available rollover funds — moved and seconded; outcome: passed. - Motion to send a draft Code Blue resolution to finance/legal for further refinement and to consider adding operational parameters — direction taken by committee (no formal final board resolution passed at this meeting). - Motion to apply for Walmart Foundation grant (up to $5,000) and to accept/submit letter of intent for the FID program (Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs) — motions made and seconded; outcomes: passed. - Motion to move multiple budget amendment requests (competency restoration, Alta Middle College award, preschool/early intervention shortfalls) to finance — motions made and passed.

What the committee did not decide: The Code Blue resolution was discussed and a draft will be refined; the final resolution was not adopted at this meeting. The committee directed staff to prepare the refined materials for finance and legal review before presentation to the full board.

The meeting included several requests for follow-up data: (1) confirmation from state about rollout of rollover childcare dollars; (2) corrected transportation client counts in the quarterly report; (3) breakdown of new vs. returning food pantry households; and (4) procurement path and staffing plan for the court-based navigator if the county accepts the state funding.