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Black Hawk County staff seek modest increases for General Assistance budget amid rising demand
Summary
General Assistance staff told the Board of Supervisors the FY26 request holds mostly flat but asks small increases for salaries, shelter and utility aid and substance-abuse committal costs amid rising client counts.
Pauline Schipper, General Assistance, told the Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors during a budget work session that the department expects rising demand and is requesting small, targeted increases for fiscal 2026.
Schipper said, “For FY 24, we averaged about 160 individuals and families that were reaching out for assistance,” and that early FY25 numbers suggest the count will increase. The department’s FY26 request includes a roughly 2.2% overall increase (about $15,095) driven by a 3% salary-and-benefits increase for three agencies, modest increases for judicial/hospital preparations, a $500 office-supplies increase, $22 in additional shelter assistance, and $5,000 more for utility assistance to reflect updated income guidelines.
The request keeps partnership roles intact; Schipper credited Eastside Ministerial Alliance, Chesky and Operation Threshold for intake and daily distribution support and said those partners provide six to seven staff helping clients. She said the program has historically ended fiscal years with surpluses but that the balance is tightening as demand grows.
On substance-abuse committals, Schipper said the budget carries $42,000 for attorney fees, sheriff transports and hospital charges used for judicial committals. She reported uncertainty about an expected shift of those responsibilities to the mental-health system on July 1 and said the $42,000 was retained in case the change does not occur. The board discussed the risk and said they would adjust the budget if the state provides conclusive guidance before certification.
Supervisor comments emphasized the program’s impact on individuals and the local social safety net: one supervisor said a small rent payment “can be the difference between groceries” and homelessness for a family. Supervisors also asked for a year-to-date percentage comparison of FY25 demand; Schipper said she would email updated figures.
The department enforces a three-times-per-fiscal-year limit on assistance per person or family; Schipper said she tracks uses daily and shares a spreadsheet with partner agencies to enforce the cap.
The board did not take formal action on the General Assistance request during the session; staff said they will adjust line items if state policy changes affect committal-related costs.
