Legislators press for short-term bridge as county faces childcare assistance shortfall
Summary
Health and human services staff reported the county spent about $5.75 million on CCAP in FY 2025–26, received $2.5 million in supplemental state funding and faces an estimated $1.1–$1.2 million shortfall in claims through September; fully reopening the program early would add roughly $620,000 per month, prompting proposals to temporarily bridge September costs and to send a letter to OCFS seeking timeline changes or redistributed funds.
Legislators spent the largest portion of the meeting pressing staff for clarity about childcare assistance (CCAP) funding and whether the county can reopen enrollment before the state allocation takes effect Oct. 1.
Kat Scott, the health and human services staff member overseeing the grant, described a mismatch between the county’s allocation and claims: "We were allotted $3,000,000 for the fiscal year of 2025 to 2026. We spent 5,750,000… The state gave us supplemental funds of $2,500,000… So by the end of June, we were at a deficit of a $175,000… There are claims coming in for July, August, and September that are projected to be about 1000000 dollars… So all in all, we are looking at a deficit of… Let's call it $1,200,000." (verbatim from transcript).
Staff explained the CCAP program is income-based with priority for families experiencing homelessness, children with disabilities, and temporary assistance recipients; providers submit claims to the county and the county is reimbursed by the state up to its allocation. Kat said the county’s administrative ability to reopen the program in September depends on a reliable guarantee of reimbursement or state redistribution of underspent funds from other counties: "The state was not able to guarantee us $3,000,000. So I don't think the county is in a position, to put out $3,000,000."
Legislators proposed a short-term local bridge for September while seeking commitments from the state, and several asked county staff to draft a resolution or letter to the Office of Child and Family Services (OCFS) urging timing changes so allocations align with school and workforce needs. The committee also scheduled follow-up discussion at the Health & Human Services meeting to produce clearer July claims data and to refine bridge estimates.
The transcript records varying estimates from staff and legislators; in cases where figures were unclear or the phrasing in the record was garbled, this article reports the numeric estimates that staff repeated during the meeting and notes the legislature requested precise July claims at the next Health & Human Services session.
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