County hears early‑intervention and disability services funding requests

Two regional social‑service providers described rising demand and specific local funding needs during the work session.

Stephanie Wills, early‑intervention director for Russell Child Development Center, said services are free to families but the program has a persistent local funding gap. "We do have a funding gap of $325,000," Wills said, outlining that county mill allocations, Medicaid billing and state grants cover most but not all program needs.

Steve Sandoval, president and CEO of Southwest Developmental Services (SDSI), said SDSI serves more than 1,100 individuals across 18 counties and uses county mill funding to cover services that Medicaid does not. "We serve 1,165 individuals," Sandoval said, explaining county funds are pooled to address non‑Medicaid eligible needs such as transportation and local case management.

Commissioners discussed restoring some outside‑agency allocations to 2026 levels, noting that other line items and a special‑highway bond payment drive a larger county budget shortfall. Staff were asked to model the fiscal impact of returning SDSI and Russell CDC funding to prior levels and to identify whether grants could fill part of the Russell CDC gap.