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Board hears state SNAP appropriation and warning of a potential 988 funding shortfall
Summary
County staff said Wisconsin Act 116 appropriated more than $72 million to SNAP, covering an earlier projected $32 million shortfall; staff also warned repeated federal delays to 988 grant funding could create a $2 million deficit for the program beginning Oct. 1.
Kelly, Health and Human Services director, updated the board on state and federal funding matters that could affect county programs and staffing.
Kelly said the county had previously flagged a potential $32 million shortfall tied to federal SNAP changes. "In late March, they did pass Wisconsin Act 116, which did appropriate over $72,000,000 to the SNAP program and offset," Kelly said, adding that the state has also put money toward quality control and error-rate monitoring to avoid large penalties if error rates exceed 6%.
Kelly described state expectations for increased quality-control review of food-share applications, noting counties and consortiums may need to add staff. "We want you to be hiring staff who already have food share experience," she said, and indicated that Adams County would likely bring forward a request to add a fully funded quality-control position once contract addenda are available.
On crisis-line funding, Kelly warned of repeated delays to federal 988 grant disbursements and said counties could face a funding gap: "If there's not another grant pushed out soon, there will be a $2,000,000 deficit for the 988 program, beginning October 1." She encouraged the board to keep the issue on its radar and in case advocacy is needed.
Kelly also reported that Adams County id not see expected GWAR cuts and instead received roughly $17,000 more than anticipated for 2026 contracts.
Board members had questions about the statewide distribution of the potential 988 shortfall and were told the $2 million figure refers to the state's allocation divided among counties.
