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Human Services highlights SNAP, Medicaid risks and placement costs; board reviews vouchers and carry-forwards
Summary
Dunn County’s Department of Human Services told the board that federal and state budget uncertainty—potential changes to SNAP and Medicaid—could affect local services; staff also reviewed placement costs, reported births and asked the board to approve carry-forwards and budget adjustments (approved during the meeting).
Miss Winter (Department of Human Services) briefed the Health and Human Services Board on Feb. 27 about program and fiscal issues facing the department, including potential federal/state changes to SNAP and Medicaid, placement costs and current financial posture.
Winter explained the local significance of SNAP (known federally as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program): it supports senior in-home meals, school food programs, food-share benefits and other nutrition services that the department and community partners administer or support. She and board members noted that prospective federal or state changes to SNAP or Medicaid could have far-reaching impacts on food security, child care food support and senior meal programs.
Winter said the governor’s budget proposal includes a request to backfill counties for some Lincoln Hills cost increases; she cautioned the board that the proposal must move through legislative processes before counties can count on any relief.
On placements and costs, Winter and board members discussed rising placement expense and that the county’s 2024–25 budget process will reflect contract and placement adjustments. Winter also noted staff workloads and the programmatic strain from client uncertainty; she said mental-health caseloads show increased worry among clients and staff.
Financial items reviewed in the meeting included January DHS vouchers and multiple carry-forward and budget-adjustment resolutions. The board reviewed January 2025 vouchers (the board noted review by motion) and approved 2024-to-2025 carry-forwards and budget adjustments for Veterans Services, Department of Human Services grant carry-forwards and adjustments and a health-department ARPA budget adjustment; the board approved those items by voice vote during the meeting.
Winter closed by noting births and staff activity in the department and thanked colleagues for their work. The board had no additional direction beyond approving the listed financial adjustments.
