Winona County delays decision on $15,000 shelter request, seeks city buy‑in and more detail

Winona County commissioners deferred a final decision on a $15,000 request from Catholic Charities to support local homeless shelter operations, voting to table the item until staff return with clarified funding sources and whether the City of Winona will contribute.

Director Jill Chaffy summarized the background: local shelters operate on a mixed funding model—state grants provide roughly two‑thirds of operational funding, with donations and volunteers covering the remainder. Chaffy said the $15,000 request would finance extended hours and additional staff time for 2026 (the ask covers utilities, staffing to leverage volunteer time, and limited infrastructure needs), not a permanent capital remodeling project.

Commissioner Begley, who made an initial motion to allocate $15,000 from undedicated 2025 SAHA funds, and others expressed concern about crowding out private philanthropy. "My fear is that if we get involved, we will see a decline in private philanthropy," one commissioner said, adding that visible government funding can change donor behavior.

Commissioner Ward and others suggested alternatives to using the SAHA allotment, including reallocation of other county funds, grant applications, or securing a one‑time seed investment tied to a clear sunset clause and explicit commitments from the City of Winona. Commissioner Ward also asked whether the county could reduce the subsequent SEMRA levy request if this one‑time support reduced near‑term need.

Finance Director Chuck Elliott confirmed the county holds undedicated SAHA funds from 2025 (total county SAHA allocation cited in the packet: $57,588) and that roughly half of that arrives in a second payment; commissioners asked staff to check whether a portion had already been committed and to confirm the city's contribution and any in‑kind support.

After debate, the board retracted an initial motion to allocate SAHA funds and instead voted to table the request for two weeks so staff could return with: confirmation of available SAHA balances, whether the City of Winona will contribute, the shelter’s exact budget breakdown (including plumbing or facility constraints), and options to limit the county's exposure to ongoing operational obligations.

What’s next: The county will revisit the matter at the next meeting with additional financial detail and city engagement status. Commissioners emphasized a preference for one‑time or matched funding rather than creating a permanent county operational responsibility.