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DHHS outlines carryover requests, ARPA allocations and limits on using RentBridge funds for new housing initiative
Summary
At the appropriation hearing DHHS listed multiple carryover requests (including $28.8 million for child welfare work and $18.9 million in federal RentBridge funds), and clarified federal RentBridge funds cannot be used to replace the $14.5 million housing initiative request in the department’s amendment.
Department of Health and Human Services staff told the Appropriations - Human Resources Division which previously authorized funds they intend to carry forward and how federal recovery (ARPA/COVID) funds are scheduled.
Key carryovers and federal allocations described - Child welfare system carryover: staff said they are requesting to carry over about $28,800,000 to continue work toward a new child welfare procurement and related project work. - RentBridge (federal COVID funds): the department said roughly $18,900,000 in federal COVID/RentBridge funds remain and are available for spend-down; the department told the committee federal rules and obligation windows apply. Dirk Wilk clarified the federal funds for RentBridge “you cannot overlap. So RentBridge separate. The homeowner Grama goes to 2026. The federal funds ends in September and we stop obligating the funds in July.” - Valley eCare / virtual behavioral health crisis center: the department’s state fiscal recovery schedule showed $2,007,000 remaining for Valley eCare; staff said they would update the crossover schedule to reflect carryover and spend timing.
Limits on fund reuse - Committee members asked whether RentBridge or other federal carryover funds could be repurposed to replace the department’s proposed $14,500,000 housing initiative. Department staff and Interim Commissioner Dirk Wilk stated the RentBridge funds are narrowly designated and cannot be overlapped with the housing initiative line: “Chairman Nelson that's correct. Rent produce a separate program and can't be overlapped.”
Other carryover items and process - The department listed other carryover requests including the MMIS and other IT projects, CCBHC one-time funding carryover ($4.1M referenced for behavioral health clinic startup costs), and leftover COVID dollars for rent/eviction prevention programs. Staff agreed to produce draw schedules and obligation calendars for federal carryover funds and to specify deadlines and spend windows for each federal source.
Committee follow-up - Members asked for a schedule showing monthly draws and obligation deadlines for the RentBridge and other federal funds so the legislature can track obligations and avoid returning unspent funds to federal sources.
