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SNAP benefits in St. Mary's County at risk as federal shutdown continues
Summary
A St. Mary's County commissioner warned that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for about 6,830 adults and 4,555 children could be cut off Nov. 1 if the federal government shutdown persists; the commissioner said the county may need to declare a state of emergency and consider emergency funding while the school system will continue
A St. Mary's County commissioner warned that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for about 6,830 adults and 4,555 children could be cut off Nov. 1 if the federal government shutdown continues, putting a significant share of local residents at risk.
"It's terrible that it's still ongoing," the commissioner said, adding that "the county and the health department and several of our partner agencies and community groups have met to discuss the problem." The commissioner said the county's SNAP payments amount to about $2 million a month and noted that, "If it doesn't, then I think at the county level, we should declare a state of emergency also."
The commissioner said the St. Mary's County Board of Education has arranged for schools to continue free and reduced-price meals for at least two months, which he called "good news" for children who rely on school meals.
The remarks did not record a formal motion or vote. The commissioner described monitoring the situation and said he would support providing emergency county funding "depending upon how this looks and what happens," but gave no specific funding amount or timeline for action. The speaker also noted that the state of Virginia had declared a state of emergency in response to similar impacts of the shutdown, citing that as a comparison when suggesting local measures.
No formal action or declaration was taken in the remarks recorded in the transcript. The commissioner closed the brief remarks by recognizing local high school soccer teams advancing to regional finals.
