Reno County unanimously authorizes temporary funding to keep WIC staff during federal delay

Reno County commissioners voted unanimously to let the county health department use local health fund resources to cover Women, Infants and Children (WIC) staff costs after state and federal benefit allocations were delayed.

Heather Peterson, Reno County WIC coordinator, told the board that Reno WIC serves more than 1,400 participants monthly and that approximately $1 million in WIC benefits are redeemed each year at six county vendors. "So we are asking the commissioners to continue to fund WIC staff until the federal food dollars allowed for the state of Kansas are depleted," Peterson said.

County staff explained that the federal fiscal year funding process and a recent federal shutdown delayed planned allocations; Kansas expected state-managed food dollars to last through Oct. 31, and the local allotment received for Reno County covered about eight days of staff costs beginning Oct. 1. To avoid service interruptions, staff asked the commission to authorize use of the health department fund (Fund 003) to keep WIC staffed while federal food benefits are awaiting replenishment.

Commissioner Parks moved to authorize the health department to use Fund 003 for the staffing costs; a second was offered and discussion noted that state communications were "fluid" but that county fund reserves could cover the staffing need. The motion passed in a roll-call vote with all present commissioners voting yes.

The authorization covers staff costs only and, according to staff, is intended to be temporary — in effect until federal food dollars resume or until the state-provided food funds are exhausted. The board did not set a specific dollar limit in its motion. County staff agreed to keep commissioners updated as state and federal guidance evolves.

Next steps: The health department will deploy the temporary fund authorization to maintain WIC appointments and related services while staff monitor state and federal allocations.