County department heads warn potential federal funding freezes could hit parks, health and aging services

Department heads told the Harvey County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 11 that several federal and state funding streams that support parks, public health and aging services could be delayed or reduced, and that the county should prepare for budget impacts.

Cass Miller, Harvey County Parks, said the Community Fisheries Assistance Program (CFAP), a state‑administered, federally funded matching program, totaled $45,978.17 for the county and that the state had warned of a possible freeze. Miller said the grant covers shoreline maintenance, dock maintenance and janitorial supplies tied to fisheries but does not cover the annual fish‑stocking budget; the parks department’s planned fish stocking for 2025 is about $29,000 and a replacement UTV was budgeted at $15,000. If CFAP funding is frozen, Miller said the department would consider cancelling fish stocking and possibly reintroducing daily fishing permits that the county had not been charging under the grant program.

Lynette Reddington, Harvey County Health Department, described multiple federal‑origin grants that fund local health services. Reddington said the department has approximately $304,000 in grant dollars that support personnel across programs. Later in the meeting county administration clarified WIC figures: staff fees allocated to WIC were $93,424 and the full WIC grant for the local program was $279,808; the WIC program includes breastfeeding peer counselor support. Reddington said staff had not been told that federal WIC funding would be cut but that the department is preparing contingency plans if federal flows change.

Lona Kelly, director of Harvey County Department on Aging, outlined grants that support RSVP (the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program), rural public transportation and general aging services. Kelly said the current federal contribution to RSVP is about $54,000 and that grant awards and operating funds for transportation are set on different federal/state schedules; she said the next transport grant term begins July 1 and that the department has applied for operating, administrative and capital funds for the coming term.

Department heads and commission staff noted that sequestration deadlines and state budget timing could produce short‑term uncertainty. County staff said some programs have written contingency language allowing operations to continue “in good faith” while negotiations or reauthorizations are completed, but leaders cautioned that prolonged freezes would force service reductions or program changes at the county level.

Ending — Commissioners asked staff to provide detailed cost lists for programs that could be affected and to return with options for preserving core services if federal or state funding is reduced.