Washington Co. Board hears what it must allot due to unallotment

The details of the cuts left Washington County commissioners wondering where in the county budget they'll find the money for state-mandated social service programs.

By KEVIN GILES, Star Tribune

Last update: June 30, 2009 - 10:59 PM

It was fitting that Dan Papin wore a black suit Tuesday to announce the death of state funding to help abused children and other vulnerable residents in Washington County.

"One of the social workers nicknamed me Danny Downer," Papin, the county's community services director, told commissioners as he outlined an obituary for the county's share of $236 million in human services spending that Gov. Tim Pawlenty cut statewide. Even though state money disappears in those cuts, known as "unallotments," the state requires many of the programs to continue at county expense.

"I'd like to unallot that whole crowd over there at the Capitol," said Commissioner Gary Kriesel, a frequent critic of the state's transfer of taxation to county property taxpayers. About 80 percent of the county's annual budget comes in state and federal mandates.

Papin said that state unallotments in social service and mental programs hit many of the poorest and least able citizens in Washington County. For example, the state will cut an estimated $1 million over the next two years that would be used to investigate Washington County child abuse and neglect and to help pay for foster care.

Other state money, about $210,000, would have paid for emergency assistance for impoverished residents to help with rent and utilities once a year. Papin told commissioners that the fund helped 260 households last year.

Soon, commissioners will start work on their 2010 budget. One of their biggest challenges will be to find ways to compensate for $2.2 million in state unallotments next year.

Most of those cuts fall in Papin's department, and Myra Peterson, who chairs the board, said that the county will pay one way or another.

"If we don't pay for social services and mental health we will pay for incarceration," she said, echoing opinions of other county leaders that crime rises when social assistance falls.

In February and March, commissioners cut $3.1 million from this year's budget because of losses in state aid and a decline in other revenue, such as fees paid at county offices. To find those savings, commissioners abolished the full-time equivalent of 21 jobs. All but two were vacant at the time.

Papin told commissioners that they faced a dilemma: Raise property taxes to keep services, or cut services and lay off social workers to save money. Commissioners weren't ready Tuesday to make that decision and took no action on Papin's presentation.

The county's 2009 budget included a 4.9 percent property tax increase but at the time spent $18.6 million less than the 2008 budget.

In other action:

• Board members voted to spend $30,000 over the next six months in a multi-county contract with a medical services broker, Medical Transportation Management Inc. The broker coordinates non-emergency medical transportation for medical assistance recipients. Commissioners raised serious concerns about the arrangement, including whether money was being wasted, but agreed to the contract while Papin gathers more information about whether the county could inherit the broker's role.

• Commissioners voted 5-0 to end the county's participation in family court services. Tom Adkins, who heads the community corrections department, told commissioners that state law no longer requires the county to fund the program. Clients needing services such as child custody evaluations will go to private providers, he said. The savings was estimated at $150,000.

Kevin Giles • 612-750-6571

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