Committee tables resolution on 2025 budget transfers after $2 million human services overrun

The Oneida County Executive Committee on March 11 voted to move a resolution authorizing 2025 budget transfers to a future meeting after Finance Director Tina Smigielski reported several departmental overages, including a roughly $2 million shortfall in Human Service Residential Care.

Smigielski walked members through annual closeout procedures and said departments have until late February to request line-item transfers within their budgets. This year she identified four departments exceeding allocations: Branch II ($32,030), Insurance Premiums ($149,260), LRES ($14,687) and Human Service Residential Care (about $2,000,000). Smigielski recommended tabling the resolution to see whether additional funds become available to offset the deficit.

Human Service Department Director Beth Hoerchler explained placement options for children and noted the caseload has declined from a high of 101 in October 2020 to 74 currently, but the per-child cost of care has increased; Human Service Financial Supervisor Heidi Chavez said the county does not control those costs, which are set at the state level. Supervisor Robb Jensen asked for explanation of placement categories and funding sources.

After discussion, Chairman Billy Fried moved (seconded by Supervisor Steven Schreier) to move the resolution to a future Executive Committee meeting so staff can gather more solid information; the motion passed unanimously. The committee expects to revisit the matter at its next meeting with the goal of providing a resolution to the April County Board if offsetting funds are confirmed.

The motion does not change the county’s budget allocations; it postpones formal transfers until staff report back with clearer funding information.