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HHS leaders warn of mounting workload from SNAP changes and unfunded state mandates
Summary
County health and human services staff told commissioners that federal and state policy changes — including SNAP verification rules and a new child welfare act — will add staff time and strain an already-tight 2026 budget, with some services currently subsidized by grant funding.
Health and human services advisory committee members briefed the board on staffing and funding pressures for 2026.
Committee members said departments have relied on reserves and modest annual increases (about 0.5% some years), but federal SNAP program changes and a state child-welfare preservation act will increase verification and casework demands. Commissioners heard that county burials average roughly two dozen annually and that opioid funding has declined, leaving fewer discretionary resources.
The board discussed that many HHS positions are partially grant-funded (50–100%), complicating any staffing reductions because grant-funded positions cannot be simply eliminated without losing those dollars. Commissioners agreed they need concrete numbers before determining cuts or other changes for the 2026 levy and budget.
