Washington County board approves moving forward with 'Eva' AI tool for social‑services client support

County social‑services staff sought the board’s approval to move forward with Eva, an AI client‑service tool intended to supplement staff capacity and provide after‑hours access for clients.

The staff presentation noted a one‑time setup fee of $15,000 and an annual contract price of $67,807; staff said the vendor estimates roughly 65% of costs will be reimbursed in program billing and that Washington County’s first‑year share would be just under $42,000 before other offsets. Staff also reported a $20,000 award from the Glens Falls Foundation to help cover the startup cost.

Board members pressed staff on whether Eva would replace employees or simply improve efficiency; staff repeatedly described Eva as a support tool to reduce routine casework burdens, allow limited off‑hours service, and free staff to focus on higher‑complexity work. "This is not an employee replacement program," staff said, adding that the department will track overtime and other savings to evaluate return on investment.

Members also highlighted the budget implications for 2027 and asked staff to continue seeking grants to offset implementation costs. A motion to move the request to finance and proceed was made and carried by voice vote.

Why this matters: adopting AI to manage routine client contacts could change staffing workflows and service response options for clients who cannot call during business hours. The move has budget implications for the county and will be monitored for measurable savings or workload reductions.

What’s next: staff will forward the proposal to finance, track early metrics (overtime, call volumes) and report back to the board.