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Gunnison/Hinsdale officials warn random sampling could squeeze human-services budget as child-welfare placements rise
Summary
At the April 21, 2026 Gunnison/Hinsdale Board of Human Services meeting staff said state 'random sampling' could reduce reimbursements, while child-welfare spending is ahead of schedule because of a rise in complex out-of-home placements.
At its April 21, 2026 meeting the Gunnison/Hinsdale Board of Human Services heard that county leaders face rising child-welfare costs and uncertainty about state reimbursement tied to the State’s random-sampling process.
Deputy Chief Finance Officer Mark Rozman said he has been working with Assistant County Manager for Health Joni Reynolds to understand how random sampling affects reimbursement and budgeting. Rozman said the county "may or may not be reimbursed" for some work depending on the statewide sampling data, and staff are adjusting their internal budgets to reflect that uncertainty.
The concern comes as Commissioner Elizabeth Smith told the board that child-welfare spending for both Gunnison and Hinsdale counties appears "overspent for the timing." ACM Reynolds said there have been more out-of-home placements than she has seen in her tenure and that several cases involve multiple children with high needs, driving higher immediate costs.
Commissioner Greg Levine noted that Hinsdale County’s very small caseloads make its budget numbers especially sensitive to single cases, where one placement can dramatically change projections. Board members discussed that administrative costs are also included in the statewide data used to allocate program budgets.
The board approved prior meeting minutes earlier in the session by a motion from Commissioner Jonathan Houck, seconded by Commissioner Elizabeth Smith; the motion was carried unanimously, according to the minutes.
The board did not adopt any budget actions at the meeting. Staff said they will continue to analyze random-sampling results and return with more detailed budget recommendations when additional data are available. The board is scheduled to meet next on June 16, 2026; the minutes contained a typographical listing of that date as "June 16, 2016," which staff should correct in the official record.
The meeting adjourned at 9:19 a.m.
