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Human Services presents FY25 spending, revenue lag and FY26 base-budget guidance to board
Summary
Human Services staff reviewed fiscal year 2025 spending and revenue patterns, explained a typical two-month lag in state reimbursements (affecting DSS and Medicaid billing), and said the department’s FY26 base budget (excluding salaries) was presented at $9.4 million with a requested 2% reduction.
Department leaders presented a high-level review of fiscal year 2025 and the FY26 base-budget guidelines and answered board questions about revenue timing tied to state reimbursement processes.
"What we have put in front of you is simply high level for FY '25: our expenses," said Anne Chigory, the county budget and fiscal lead for Human Services, as she described budget figures in materials provided to the board. In the packet she reviewed, the department’s general-fund expenses were shown as about $55,000,000 and total revenue as roughly $27,000,000; staff said the county-funded portion is about $28,000,000 (roughly 51% of the total). Chigory emphasized the fiscal snapshot in the packet reflected data through February.
Staff told the board the most significant reason the revenue side may look low through February is timing: "The DSS reimbursement process through the Department of Health and Human Services is typically at least a two-month lag in receiving that revenue," a staff member explained. County leaders said that lag affects social services revenue, Medicaid billing and some program grants; transportation claims are often submitted quarterly, which also creates timing differences.
On staffing and Medicaid expansion, staff reported that Human Services added 10 positions for Medicaid expansion—one supervisor, one technician and eight eligibility specialists—most of which are expected to be reimbursed at approximately 75% by state/federal sources. The department reported 547 total positions, 510 filled and 37 vacant (about a 6.7% vacancy rate) in February.
FY26 base budget: Staff said the department was presented a base budget figure of $9,400,000 for FY26 that does not include salaries and benefits; the county asked departments to identify a 2% reduction target in base spending. Directors said they had identified possible line-item reductions and that the budget process includes a chance to request service-level restorations if cuts would materially affect essential services.
Why it matters: County-funded spending and the timing of reimbursements affect cash flow and near-term presentations of budget health. Board members asked for clarifications and were shown where the packet labeled "percent of amount through" tied to expected expenditures through February.
Ending: Staff said the department will continue to refine FY26 requests, identify service-level priorities to return to the county manager if needed, and urged board members to follow the county manager’s budget updates in coming weeks.
