Washington County will front $325,712 to cover Social Services payroll amid federal shutdown

The Washington County Board of Supervisors voted 4-0 to have the county temporarily cover $325,712.04 in state and federal reimbursements so the Department of Social Services can meet November payroll.

Kathy Johnson, Director of the Department of Social Services, told the board the department’s usual monthly payroll is about $433,000 and that the requested $325,712.04 represents the state and federal share that may not be reimbursed while the federal government remains shut down. "For November, our total payroll costs alone would be over $433,000," Johnson said, adding that the county portion is roughly $107,000 and that staff and mandated services would be at risk without interim funding. She said the department has paused all nonessential purchases and is trying to protect employees’ wages and benefits.

Johnson listed the programs the department must provide — SNAP, TANF, Medicaid, auxiliary grants, child protective services, foster care and adoption assistance — and said those services affect more than 18,000 local enrollees and hundreds of active child- and adult-protection cases. She warned that furloughs could jeopardize safety and continuity of care, saying the department has invested in training and could lose experienced staff if pay is interrupted.

Board members pressed staff on where the risk would fall and whether the state portion would be guaranteed. Carl Ayers, identified to the board as a deputy commissioner attending a regional directors meeting, told the group that the state’s guidance had been misread in some places and characterized the risk of nonreimbursement as low, recommending departments “operate as business as usual.” Johnson and staff emphasized uncertainty: the board debated whether to appropriate new funds or allow the department to use existing budgeted balances.

Faced with that uncertainty, a board member moved to allow Johnson to continue operations and direct the county to fund the November payroll shortfall out of local funds; the motion passed 4-0. The board did not identify a formal mover and seconder by name in the public record for the motion as stated in the transcript.

The board’s action is temporary and board members said they will revisit the matter if the shutdown continues into the next month. The immediate vote was framed as a measure to prevent furloughs and keep mandated services running while the county awaits clarity on state and federal reimbursements.

What’s next: County staff said they would monitor federal and state actions and return to the board if further appropriations or action is needed.