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Wake County officials warn SNAP, Medicaid funding remain uncertain as legislature stalls
Summary
County staff and a legislative advisor told commissioners the 2026 short session is unusual: with no enacted budget from the prior year, SNAP and Medicaid funding remain at risk and could significantly affect county operating budgets if the General Assembly does not act.
County staff and the commission’s legislative advisor told Wake County commissioners on Jan. 12 that state-level uncertainty around SNAP and Medicaid poses a major budget risk for local government.
Philip Isaac, the county’s legislative advisor, told the board that this short session is atypical because the General Assembly has not finalized a budget from the previous year. “We are in the middle…I say middle. We just started the beginning of 2026. This is year 2 of a 2 year biennium,” he said, warning that the lack of an agreed budget increases the chance counties will need to defend existing services rather than pursue new initiatives.
Staff distributed a SNAP/Medicaid one-pager; Ben of the manager’s office noted state estimates for one-year SNAP coverage top out around $420,000,000. “Covering SNAP for 1 year…has been ballparked at 420,000,000,” he said, adding that using the state’s rainy-day fund to cover recurring needs is not ideal.
Commissioners pressed staff on the likely timing and impacts. One commissioner said Medicaid “rebase” funding could cause counties to run out of money in a few months; Isaac replied estimates vary and the issue has become “very political,” with some staff and leaders privately projecting resolution in a window of months. Commissioners requested links to upcoming committee hearings and recordings so they can follow developments and the county’s advocacy via the NCACC.
Why it matters: SNAP and Medicaid are large, recurring programs that affect county service capacity and staff workloads. A significant state shortfall or policy shift could force Wake County to reallocate operating funds or delay planned services.
