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Commissioners warned SNAP, other grants cut as Walla Walla County reviews public health budget
Summary
Walla Walla County’s Department of Community Health told commissioners it faces near-term cuts to SNAP funding and other grant lines, putting some programs — including breastfeeding counseling and specimen collection contracts — at risk as staff seek alternatives and await state decisions by Jan. 1.
The Walla Walla County Board of Commissioners heard detailed budget briefings Nov. 5 from the Department of Community Health about looming grant reductions that could force program cuts.
Nancy Wenzel, community health director, told commissioners the department manages seven funds, with Fund 112 the primary public health fund, and said the department is “mostly grant funded.” She said the SNAP-funded line has already been removed from the 2026 budget and that foundational public health (FPH) funding is under negotiation with the state and partners, with a decision expected by Jan. 1.
That timing matters because some revenue for 2026 was prepaid and already shows in interim cash reports, Wenzel said, but other lines remain uncertain. “We will be losing SNAP and I’ve already taken it out of this budget,” she said, adding that staff are on twice-weekly calls with funders to determine how much can be pulled from reserves and whether any money will be restored.
Why it matters: Commissioners were told the department’s annual budget grew from roughly $1.5 million pre‑COVID to about $7 million during and after the pandemic because of one‑time and ongoing state and federal awards. Several programs are now vulnerable if grants are not renewed.
Wenzel identified specific services that could be affected: county-funded breastfeeding counseling is at risk pending FPH decisions, and a small specimen‑collection contract used for paternity testing is being considered for transfer back to a state lab because it yields little revenue and consumes clinic time. “We’re trying to transfer that back to Lab 4 — it’s just not in our office because it’s not a great revenue source for us,” she said.
The health director also said the department maintains targeted reserves for communicable disease responses. She reported roughly $250,000 placed in a tuberculosis/ isolation professional‑services line and operating contingency to cover emergent needs, and reminded commissioners the department can use quarantine space contracted at a local facility if needed.
Commissioners asked for follow‑up details on prepaid FPH receipts and exact cash balances; staff said they would verify where 2026 prepaid funds appear on the ledgers. The board did not take formal action on the items during the session but directed staff to return with precise cash reconciliations and proposed contingency plans.
What’s next: Wenzel said final decisions tied to the SNAP and FPH changes will hinge on state conversations and that the department will come back with clearer numbers once funders finalize awards.
