Warren County DSS wins budget adjustments and continues sheriff contracts; one request withdrawn

The Warren County Human Services Committee approved combined budget and revenue adjustments for several Department of Social Services (DSS) programs and renewed continuation agreements with the sheriff’s department during its Jan. 21, 2025 meeting; a separate 2024-related request was withdrawn because year-end transfer rules prevent action.

Nina, DSS staff, asked the committee to combine requests 1 through 5 to increase revenues and appropriations in the 2025 budget to reflect the remainder of program allocations carried from 2024. "This includes the code blue allocation, the shelter arrears eviction resettlement program, the Family Centered Services Initiative, SNAP allocation, the Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, and the Comprehensive Addiction Recovery Act, as well as the municipal safe harbor funding," Nina said, explaining these are 2024/2025 program allocations that need to be placed in the 2025 budget for reimbursement.

The committee approved combining requests 1–5 (motion by Supervisor Strainer; second by Supervisor Runyon) with members voting "aye" and no opposition recorded. Request number 6 was withdrawn when staff said 2024 transfers can no longer be processed; the minutes will reflect that withdrawal. Separately, requests 7–9 — continuation agreements with the sheriff’s department for security services, fraud investigative services, and IT services — were presented as renewals already reflected in the 2025 budget and were approved (motion by Supervisor Bruno; second by Supervisor Runyon).

Committee members heard a fiscal report for January–December 2024 from Julie, the departing fiscal manager, who said the county is still processing 2024 expenses in January but projects ending the year within budget and near revenue projections. The committee marked Julie’s retirement and welcomed Joe Limone as the new fiscal manager; members praised Julie’s 14 years with DSS and her assistance in onboarding staff.

Why it matters: the approved budget adjustments allocate revenue for several federal and state programs that affect shelter services, child-abuse prevention, SNAP administration, addiction recovery programs and municipal safe-harbor funds. The continuation agreements maintain county-sherriff service relationships for security and investigative support.

DSS staff indicated the combined actions put the remaining program reimbursements into the 2025 budget; the withdrawn item involved 2024 funds and will be handled via internal procedures or noted as withdrawn in the minutes. The department will report back as contracting moves forward following state approvals.