Sen. Kristen Dessler Elfheim warns Winnebago officials about SNAP work rules, administrative cost shift and a $70 million shortfall

Sen. Kristen Dessler Elfheim visited a Winnebago County ADRC meeting to hear local concerns and warned that federal and state policy changes will push new costs onto counties. She told attendees the state faces new SNAP work requirements and a possible multi‑million‑dollar fiscal gap unless lawmakers act.

The senator framed the problem as a mix of federal rule changes and state-level budget choices that could raise local spending. She said recent SNAP (FoodShare) changes expand work requirements to more people and that Wisconsin could see roughly 44,000 additional people subject to requirements; the state estimate she cited for related costs was about $14,600,000. "We are going to have to spend a minimum of $11,400,000 to make sure it doesn't get worse," she said, adding, "That's $11,000,000 that Winnebago could use." (Sen. Kristen Dessler Elfheim)

Why it matters: The senator tied the program changes to two budget pressures counties may face. First, a proposed rule would require states to pick up 75% of SNAP administrative costs starting in October 2026; she estimated the state burden at roughly $43,500,000 annually beginning in 2027. Second, a set of cuts to education and related programs removed roughly $12,000,000 annually, she said, increasing pressure on counties to subsidize services or absorb cuts. Taken together, she said, Wisconsin needs about $70,000,000 in the current biennium to cover higher administrative costs and maintain quality controls that keep the federal error rate under the 6% penalty threshold.

Details and local impact: Dessler Elfheim told the group Wisconsin historically has a low error rate (she cited "low in the fours"), but new monitoring and expanded checks could raise measured error rates; she argued that hiring staff to hold the error rate below the federal threshold could cost the state at least $11.4 million annually. She also said the federal government had always funded every dollar of SNAP benefits but that recent policy changes shifted fiscal risk and compliance costs to states and counties. "We have the money" in state surplus, she added, urging legislators to choose to allocate funds rather than offload costs to counties.

On enforcement and legal strategy, the senator noted the state is using litigation as a tool to push back on federal changes; she said she had spoken with Attorney General Josh Kahl and that Wisconsin was engaged in about 41 lawsuits "because changes have taken place that should not be taking place." She acknowledged litigation costs fall on taxpayers but framed them as the available legal remedy in some cases.

Comments from local members and staff focused on the distribution of new costs (state versus counties) and timing: Dessler Elfheim said the legislature's calendar and majority control constrain what can be moved quickly and urged outreach to GOP legislators and the governor's office to prioritize short‑term relief. She also suggested counties assemble concrete proposals — "tell me what's working, what's not" — so she can advocate for specific fixes.

What’s next: The senator encouraged continued local‑to‑state communication and said she would carry back concerns to colleagues and agency officials. Committee members and ADRC staff plan to follow up with specific data and requests that the senator said she would use when pressing the legislature or administration for targeted funding or policy adjustments.