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Children's services director details retention bonuses and warns of state SNAP/Medicaid rule changes
Summary
Morrow County's children'services director briefed commissioners on two incentive awards totaling roughly $38,000 and proposed retention bonuses for front'line staff. The director cautioned that pending state changes to SNAP/Medicaid eligibility could significantly increase workload and case counts.
Morrow County's children'services office reported staffing and funding steps intended to reduce turnover and respond to changing state rules at the June 10 meeting.
The director summarized two categories of governor-allocated incentive funds: roughly $21,000 in one category and about $17,000 in another, which together "We're looking at 38,000," the director said. The office plans to use part of those funds to award retention bonuses to case managers, supervisors and administrators. The bonuses would be based on a $3,500 base with an added 2.5 percent fringe; seven employees were identified as eligible.
On Medicaid-related incentive funding, the director said the county had earned approximately $6,202 and proposed reserving about half to cover agency expenses while allocating the remaining funds to staff payments. "I believe it's $6,202," the director said, and later added, "A $335 bonus is gonna keep everybody," describing the payments as a retention tool.
Staff also warned commissioners about potential state-level changes to SNAP eligibility and work program requirements that could increase caseloads and administrative burden. The director said testimony from the Ohio Department of Child and Family Services suggested eligibility thresholds and voluntary work-program structures are being revised, and that implementation could begin Oct. 1. The director described uncertainty about final policy language and an increased need for staff time to process additional intake questions.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions about the size of awards and timing; staff said they were preparing to spend award funds and would return with any required formal resolutions. The board did not take a formal vote on these allocations at the meeting.
