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DJFS director outlines SNAP QA workload, staffing savings and fiscal uncertainty to commissioners
Summary
Jean Demosky, director of Athens County DJFS, briefed commissioners on state guidance about vehicle/property leasing, new SNAP error‑rate QA requirements (estimated 15–20 cases monthly), large attrition and vacancy savings already realized, and ongoing uncertainty over state repayment numbers. The board approved two small DJFS contracts during the meeting.
Jean Demosky, director of the Athens County Department of Job and Family Services, told commissioners Feb. 17 that state officials are establishing a working group to define how SNAP error‑rate costs will be handled and that counties will be required to conduct monthly Quality Assurance reviews (Demosky estimated Athens will likely pull 15–20 cases per month).
Demosky said the state had issued guidance on vehicle leasing and building leasing; vehicle leases should be treated as county assets and the state’s written guidance indicates leased vehicles are expected to be returned at term end. She said the state guidance on leasing was emailed to the county and requested that directives be in writing.
On fiscal pressures, Demosky described continuing uncertainty because the state was still adjusting 2025 numbers as recently as the prior week, preventing firm repayment schedules for planning. She outlined a list of corrective steps taken over the last year, including $1,066,364 in attrition savings, roughly $791,000 expected savings from planned 2026 vacancy holds, contract reductions, changes to RMS coding to increase reimbursement rates for some transportation claims, tighter meal‑support costs, and pursuit of grants. Demosky told the board that adequate Public Assistance staffing matters both to process applications correctly and to carry out the new QA workload.
During the session the board approved two DJFS contracts: a $5,000 agreement with the Athens County Common Pleas Court, Juvenile Division (01/01/2026–12/31/2026) and a $7,500 contract with Maximus US Services, Inc. (02/10/2026–03/31/2027) for IV‑D related billing services; both motions were made by Commissioner Charlie Adkins and seconded by Commissioner Chris Chmiel and approved unanimously.
Demosky also raised facilities planning issues involving building 510 (a potential sale or consolidation with Integrated Services) and said staff would need direction to advise the Public Defender about leasing options if bids do not lead to a sale.
