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Coconino County Board approves up to $400,000 to keep WIC benefits running through December; adds $100,000 for staff
Summary
The board voted unanimously Oct. 14 to transfer up to $400,000 from the county Stability Fund to the Arizona Department of Health Services to cover WIC food benefits for November–December 2025 and approved up to $100,000 to keep seven local WIC staff paid through Jan. 2, 2026 amid a federal funding shortfall.
The Coconino County Board of Supervisors on Oct. 14 authorized emergency Stability Fund transfers to keep the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition program operating locally during a federal funding lapse.
After a presentation from Coconino County Health and Human Services Director Michelle Axland, the board voted unanimously to: (1) approve a budget adjustment not to exceed $400,000 to the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) to maintain WIC electronic‑benefit food cards for county participants for November and December 2025; and (2) approve a separate not‑to‑exceed $100,000 budget adjustment to Coconino County Health and Human Services to fund wages and benefits for seven staff assigned to the WIC program from 11/15/2025 through 01/02/2026.
"The state can turn on and off those cards based on what the county's desires are," Axland told the board, outlining tradeoffs counties are weighing across Arizona after the federal WIC funding pause. Axland said ADHS had enough funds to cover staff payroll through Nov. 15 but would run out of funds to cover grocery benefits on Oct. 31 unless replacement funding is provided.
Board members cited the program’s local economic impact and the vulnerability of participating families. Chair Patrice Horstman said the county set the Stability Fund aside to respond to federal uncertainty and supported the two‑month intervention: "These are some of the most vulnerable of our community members, and this is exactly why we set aside this stability fund," she said.
Supervisor Geronimo Vasquez, who seconded motions during the WIC discussion, urged staff and community partners to prepare for alternatives if the federal situation continues beyond the short term. Director Axland told the board reimbursement from future federal or USDA funding is possible but not guaranteed; the county would be eligible for repayment only if state and federal allocations are restored.
Legal counsel and county finance staff worked with HHS to draft specific motion language describing the purpose, amount caps, and months covered. The board also authorized the chair to sign an agreement with ADHS to receive and pass the funds to maintain continuity of services (the motion excluded transfers into the program). All votes were unanimous.
Next steps: County staff will finalize the ADHS agreement and notify WIC participants and local grocery partners of the continuity plan for November and December. The board directed county staff to continue exploring nonprofit partnerships and other community supports to help families if the federal funding interruption extends beyond December.
