Knox County Job and Family Services warns of major state funding cuts, details vouchers and child-placement costs

Scott Boone, director of Knox County Job and Family Services, told the Knox County Commissioners on Sept. 18 that state funding changes are forcing the department to plan for “worst-case scenarios” and to rethink program delivery.

Boone said the state has signaled steep cuts to workforce funding — he referenced a 69% reduction in adult funding and a 53% reduction in youth funding — and warned that changes in how reimbursements are handled will make budget planning more difficult. “We can’t bank on any promises or assurances that we’ll have this x amount in this pot moving forward from a financial perspective,” he said.

Why it matters: Boone said those funding uncertainties could compromise local programming and increase pressure on county budgets and placement costs for children in custody.

Boone gave detailed results from the…