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State Finance Council approves $10 million for Department for Children and Families caseload shortfall
Summary
The State Finance Council on May 13 approved releasing $10 million from the state general fund to the Department for Children and Families to cover an estimated fiscal 2025 caseload shortfall; the vote was recorded 8–0.
The State Finance Council voted May 13 to release $10,000,000 from the state general fund to the Department for Children and Families to cover an identified fiscal 2025 caseload shortfall.
Director Prophet, speaking for the department, told the council: "So section 1 54 of senate bill 1 25, which was this year's budget bill, appropriated $10,000,000 from the state general fund, to the state finance council to be used in the event that, any of the human services caseload agencies were short as you have in fiscal 25." The council approved the release by roll call vote; the clerk reported "8 votes for yes, 0 for no," and the chair announced the resolution passed 8 to 0.
The funding request followed a meeting of the "caseload group" on April 8, 2025, a cross-agency and legislative review team that includes representatives of impacted agencies, legislative research and the budget division. Director Prophet said the group's estimate was "very close to $10,000,000 SGF" and that the figure had been rounded so the department would not be short by small amounts. He added that the caseload process will reconvene in the fall and any unused funds will be lapsed back to the state general fund at that time.
Shirley Morrow, director of the Legislative Research Department, was recorded in the meeting materials as having reviewed the department's certification and agreeing that DCF needed the funds to finish fiscal 2025 operations.
The motion to approve the resolution was moved by Speaker Hawkins and seconded by Senate President Masterson. The council completed a roll call vote; the clerk confirmed the tally before the chair announced that "The resolution passes with a vote of 8 to 0." The record shows Senator Sykes experienced internet issues during the vote and staff reported she indicated she intended to vote yes, but the official roll call counted eight recorded yes votes.
No changes to program authorizations or statutory language were requested; this item released appropriated funds that had been set aside in the budget bill. Director Prophet said the caseload group will provide a full accounting in the fall meeting and any unspent dollars will lapse back to the general fund.
The council moved on to other agenda items after the vote.
