Dunn County board reviews draft FoodShare resolution as SNAP changes loom

At its Sept. 25 meeting, the Dunn County Human Health and Human Services Board discussed a proposed FoodShare (SNAP) resolution drafted from Wisconsin Counties Association language that would urge the state to offset fiscal impacts to counties resulting from recent federal changes to SNAP eligibility and work requirements.

A county staff member summarized the issue for the board: “The federal government has cut SNAP benefits, and have added work, and other requirements,” and those changes could increase verification workloads and county error rates, which can trigger penalties and flow‑down costs to counties.

Doctor Hall pressed staff for clarity on statewide vs. local figures after seeing a large number in the draft. “On the third to the last item on the first page … it talks about county administrative costs, and it’s a $123,000,000 annually. Is that for the statewide?” she asked. Several supervisors asked for a localized estimate. Board staff agreed to pull county‑level figures and present them when the resolution returns to the committee in October.

Paula, representing the department, told the board the department has a vacant income maintenance position that was held open while the county decides whether to backfill given uncertain workload caused by SNAP changes. She said the next state training is in January and staff will revisit hiring in November after monitoring developments. Board members also suggested the draft resolution make clear whether the monetary request is an estimate or an open request to “offset” unspecified county fiscal impacts.

Board members agreed to continue discussion in October after staff supply local fiscal details and any suggested edits to the WCA draft. No formal vote on the resolution was taken Sept. 25.