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County to amend budget after public health reports preschool aide tuition shortfall
Summary
Public health reported a preschool projected year‑end shortage tied to increased 1‑on‑1 aide needs; monthly tuition for a 1‑on‑1 aide was cited at about $17,552–$20,950 and delayed Medicaid reimbursements are lengthening cash‑flow problems.
The Health & Human Services portion of the meeting advanced a budget amendment to cover a projected preschool year‑end shortage tied to growing need for 1‑on‑1 aides.
Speaker 7 introduced the resolution referencing NYSED 44103-5 and said Legislator Peck sponsored it; Legislator Majewski seconded. Speaker 8 described a volatile caseload: the program started the school year with 12 children requiring 1‑on‑1 aides and the number has fluctuated. Speaker 8 said monthly tuition costs for providing 1‑on‑1 aide support run roughly $17,552 on the low end for children who do not attend five days per week and about $20,950 for a child attending five days per week — figures identified as tuition (not including transportation) and tied to school‑district determinations of who requires aides.
Speaker 8 told legislators that Medicaid reimbursements are delayed at the state level for multiple quarters, which constrains the department’s ability to shift existing grant money to cover the shortfall. Committee members approved the amendment to the operating budget to cover the preschool projected shortage and moved it to the full board.
The resolution was described as covering the program through the remainder of the year; staff said they are pursuing faster Medicaid reimbursements but the county must amend the local budget to avoid a shortfall in the interim.
