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Human Services director warns placement costs are driving 2025 budget pressure
Summary
Eau Claire County's Department of Human Services told the board that placements for children are running above budget while IMD and adult placements are below projections; the department requested an additional $1.9 million for placement costs and reported an estimated $91,000 surplus through May.
Director of Human Services Weideman briefed the county board on the department's 2025 fiscal update, saying the department's total 2025 budget is $50,900,000 and the county-funded portion is $10,100,000. "Our total budget for 2025 is 50,900,000," Weideman said as she reviewed the packet.
Weideman told supervisors that January–May actuals for children's placements were $1.9 million against a budgeted $1.7 million and that the annual projection for child placements is $4.7 million (budgeted at $4.2 million). She said IMD spending for Jan–May was $554,000 (budgeted $862,000; projected $1.6 million annually) and that adult placements are trending below budget as well.
To address placement pressures, the department asked the county board for an additional $1.9 million and reallocated those dollars into placement buckets, Weideman said. "One thing that really did help is we asked for an additional $1,900,000 and put that into placement," she said. She added the department also held vacant positions this year that saved about $420,000.
Supervisors pressed for details on the new funding and the sources of risk. Supervisor Leary asked where the $1.9 million request originated; Weideman answered that it was requested from the county board. Finance staff later noted net new construction for Eau Claire County came in higher than earlier estimates and that a recent 15% health-insurance renewal will add roughly $1.5 million in costs, tightening the countywide picture for next year.
The director cautioned that federal and state program changes and local levy pressures add uncertainty and may affect staffing. She closed by saying the department expects to continue monitoring placements and other costs and will report back with updates for the board.
