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Committee discusses $50,000 proposal to help victims of SNAP theft
Summary
Committee members discussed allocating $50,000 from unassigned funds to the family crisis fund to provide replacement cards or gift cards to families affected by SNAP theft; staff and counsel were asked to return with the legal steps needed to enact the allocation.
Committee members discussed a proposal to allocate $50,000 in unassigned funds to the city’s family crisis fund to provide immediate assistance to families whose SNAP benefits have been stolen, but took no formal vote and asked staff and counsel to return with next steps.
Chairwoman Cheryl Lynch described a sharp increase in calls reporting SNAP theft and cited an earlier finding of a 63% increase in call volume to case representatives when the issue was first examined. Lynch and other members said the immediate priority is ensuring households have food while longer-term fraud remedies are pursued.
The committee noted $50,000 in unassigned nondepartmental funds from the budget are available and discussed directing some or all of that amount for SNAP replacement assistance. Councilmember Bridal said the allocation is "a great idea" and compatible with the original intent of the budget line, but asked whether the committee could act immediately or needed to route the change through the administration or as an ordinance.
Legal counsel and staff indicated the change would likely require an ordinance or other formal council action to reallocate unassigned funds. Committee staff Will Perkins said there was not a scheduled August meeting for the committee and that the next regularly scheduled meeting would be Sept. 11; members requested the matter be moved quickly so assistance can reach families.
No formal motion was made; staff and counsel were asked to review the legal process needed to transfer or appropriate the funds and to return to the committee or full council with recommended next steps.
