Human Services Committee approves $3.5 million SafeNet contract increase, taps fund balance for 2025 shortfall

The Chautauqua County Human Services Committee on Sept. 17 approved a midyear amendment to the Department of Mental Hygiene and Social Services’ 2025 budget to cover rising Safety Net costs.

The resolution directs an increase in Safety Net contractual expenditures of $3,500,000 and an increased use of county fund balance of $2,385,000 to offset the projected shortfall. Blake Garrett, director of administrative services, and department leaders told the committee that monthly Safety Net expenditures averaged roughly $1,000,000 as of August, while the 2025 budget initially included $8,000,000 for the program.

Why it matters: County leaders said the program is difficult to predict because caseloads and placements vary. Officials said the department receives roughly 100 new applications for eligibility determinations each month on top of about 200 cases already being served, and that recent family-centered case management work (a temporary waiver from the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance) has produced local-share savings of $138,376 since April by preventing evictions.

Committee discussion focused on the need to preserve fund balance as a contingency and the likelihood that the Safety Net line will be larger in the 2026 budget. "We are planning on increasing Safety Net's budget" next year, a committee member said. Officials said this is the largest projected overage in the human-services department in 2025; other overages are expected to be smaller.

The committee approved the budget amendment by voice vote.

Ending: Staff said they hope the adjustment will be sufficient to reach year end but warned the situation remains subject to change if caseloads increase.