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Wright County HHS outlines re-engineering that officials say yields $750,000 in initial savings
Summary
Health & Human Services Director Mike McMillan told the Wright County Board June 2 that a three-month re-engineering of HHS divisions has produced initial cost savings of about $750,000 and included reorganizing adult and disability services, public health workflow changes and a new grants supervisor; commissioners urged caution as state SNAP funding cuts loom.
Health and Human Services Director Mike McMillan told the Wright County Board of Commissioners on June 2 that a three-and-a-half-month re-engineering effort across HHS has produced initial cost savings of roughly $750,000 and created new oversight for grants and allocations.
McMillan said the department restructured two divisions—adult and disability services and public health—redesigned front-desk workflow and moved a grants supervisor into business services to improve oversight. "We established a process for re-engineering for the future of all divisions," he said, adding that the reorganization increased capacity, created efficiencies and opened promotional opportunities for staff.
The presentation framed the work as a response to long-term budget pressure and growing county population. McMillan said staff worked with finance and human resources to assess positions and financial impacts and that business services will undergo additional re-engineering with a financial attachment to future proposals. He reported the $750,000 figure as an "initial cost savings" tied to the first reorganizations and front-desk changes.
Commissioners praised staff engagement and the collaborative approach. Commissioner Dietrich thanked McMillan and HHS teams, saying the department "has been aggressive and hardworking" in pursuing efficiencies. Another commissioner told McMillan the county must plan for reduced outside funding, citing a recent legislative change that the board described as cutting roughly $1.5 million in SNAP-related funding; McMillan said the SNAP change is being incorporated into the department's planning for 2027.
Board members emphasized the intention to limit levy increases and avoid shifting costs to local taxpayers. McMillan said re-engineering is intended to position the department to absorb policy-driven funding changes while maintaining essential services, and that staff will continue to refine workflows and regionalization options until the work is complete.
Next steps: McMillan said he will bring the remaining re-engineering proposals, including the business services package and its financial attachments, to the board later in June. The board offered unanimous support for continuing the process.
