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Social Services projects 18% increase for 2026 as Traverse joins Western Prairie partnership
Summary
Social Services Director Stacy Hennen said Traverse's 2026 Social Services budget is projected to rise 18% due to higher out‑of‑home placements, Minnesota Sex Offender Program costs, state and federal funding cuts, and the county's buy‑in to join Western Prairie (formula: population, tax base, prior three‑year expenses).
Social Services Director Stacy Hennen and staff presented a budget overview for 2026 and described the formula used to structure Traverse County's buy‑in to join Western Prairie with Pope and Grant counties. Hennen said the formula includes population, tax base and three‑year program expense history (SEGAR), and that Traverse’s relatively high number of out‑of‑home placements and Minnesota Sex Offender Program costs contribute to an 18% projected increase for 2026.
Financial Assistance Supervisor Shelly Staebler and Tracy Bowman (Fiscal Manager, Western Prairie) joined the presentation (Bowman via Zoom) to explain staffing, administrative and state/federal funding changes that are part of the increase. Commissioners were presented with the budget rationale and numbers and will consider the Social Services budget as part of the county’s overall 2026 budget deliberations.
