2019.01.23 CC Packet - Goal Setting Session

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STATE FUNDING FOR SAFETY NET SERVICES Position: Washington County supports ensuring adequate state funding for essential health and human service safety net programs without shifts in funding from the state budget to the county property taxpayers. Issue: Year after year the Minnesota Legislature balances the State budget by shifting safety net costs to counties. In recent years those shifts have come in the form of increases to the county share of residential costs at state -run safety net institutions. Often these shifts are a product of conference committee negotiations that do not allow for information to be shared with legislators on the impact of these shifts. These shifts also often include costs that the county has limited or no ability to manage, and that places increasing pressure on the property tax to fund state services that are more appropriately paid for with less regressive state funding sources like the income and sales tax. Support and Opposition: Minnesota Counties are united in their opposition to these ongoing cost shifts. The Minnesota Association of County Social Service Administrators, Minnesota Inter -County Association, and the Association of Minnesota Counties support the position. Human service advocacy organizations that are focused on getting their legislative positions included in final legislation are often not concerned about who is paying the bill and the regressive nature of the property tax system. Previous Consideration: The issue has been indirectly referenced in the county position on taxpayer protection. It does parallel a long-standing county position opposing maintenance of effort requirements. Counties have not had success eliminating those over the years, despite very compelling arguments that they are an antiquated means of funding important core services that seriously interfere with innovation and good practice. No Action: Counties will be forced to continue to raise property taxes which are not predicated on people's ability to pay in order to pay for services that should be funded by less regressive state funding sources. Financial Implications: County Human Services Cost Shares: • Minnesota Security Hospital, St. Peter o Counties responsible for ten percent of the daily cost o Counties responsible for 50 percent of the cost for the Transitional Program • Forensic Nursing Home, St. Peter o Counties responsible for 10 percent of the daily cost o Counties responsible for 50 percent of cost when the individual no longer requires program (note: counties have no say as to when this decision occurs, nor are there suitable community options available) • Community Behavioral Health Homes (CBHH) o Counties responsible for 100 percent of cost for individuals who are determined by the State to no longer meet medical criteria for placement 25