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Adams County to sunset TANF discretionary funding; commissioners approve short-term bridge grants on consent calendar
Summary
Commissioner Julie Duran Mullica told the board the county will sunset TANF discretionary funding Dec. 31 because state law changes require more TANF be used for direct cash assistance. The board approved consent-agenda amendments providing short-term bridge funding for several nonprofits.
Commissioner Julie Duran Mullica told the board on Sept. 23 that Adams County will sunset discretionary uses of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funding effective Dec. 31, citing recent changes in state law that require a greater share of TANF dollars to go to cash assistance for families.
Mullica said the decision followed months of budget review and was intended to protect core county services such as direct family assistance, child care access, food security and housing stability. "This decision was not made lightly," Mullica said. "We are committed to working with nonprofit partners, philanthropy and the business community to find new ways to sustain these services, but we will not make promises with dollars we do not have."
Mullica said the board included several short-term bridge funding amendments on the consent calendar at the Sept. 23 meeting. Those amendments provide temporary funding through the end of 2025 for nonprofit providers that have partnered with the county on housing support, homeless prevention and domestic-violence services. Mullica named Almost Home, Family Tree and Growing Communities Crisis Center (as transcribed) as examples of organizations receiving bridge funding.
Commissioner Pinter and other board members said the board will begin the 2026 budget process next week and reiterated that adoption occurs in two phases, with initial adoption in mid-October and final adoption in mid-November, as prescribed by state statute. Commissioners cautioned that one-time funding may be available but the county cannot promise ongoing levels without new revenue or partners.
The consent calendar, which included the amendments continuing short-term funding, was approved by voice vote recorded in the transcript as passing 3-0 with two commissioners absent.
Mullica and other commissioners said the county plans to continue conversations with nonprofit partners and to seek philanthropic and business support to sustain services that the county can no longer fully underwrite.
