New York counties are expected to shoulder an additional $168 million a year in administrative costs for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program under a federal funding change scheduled to take effect Oct. 1, according to U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand.
The change reduces the federal share of SNAP administrative expenses from 50% to 25%. State and local governments would be responsible for the remaining 75%, shifting costs now split evenly with the federal government.
The estimate concerns the cost of administering the program, including work handled by counties. It does not itself establish a reduction in an eligible household's food benefit, but Gillibrand's office said counties could be forced to raise local taxes or slow the review of SNAP applications if additional support is not provided.
Monroe County could face about $3 million in additional annual costs, according to figures released at an earlier Rochester news conference. Nearly 100,000 Monroe County residents use SNAP each month.
County Executive Adam Bello said Monroe County would continue working to ensure eligible residents receive benefits. He warned that money used to replace the federal administrative contribution would no longer be available for other local services and investments.
Westchester County would face an estimated $4.5 million in added annual costs, Gillibrand's office said in a subsequent briefing with food-bank leaders. More than 65,000 people in Westchester receive SNAP benefits each month.
Kristine Borok, president and CEO of Feeding Westchester, said 41% of Westchester households are at risk of hunger. She said food banks would have to double or triple their distribution to replace the SNAP reductions described by the organization and warned that emergency food networks were not designed to replace the federal nutrition program.
Gillibrand criticized the cost shift and said it would strain state and local governments while families are dealing with higher living costs. Her office described the administrative change as part of a broader set of SNAP provisions in the federal legislation.
Tracey Harrison, a vice president of 1199SEIU for the Rochester and Corning area, joined the earlier call to protect food assistance. Gillibrand's office also cited her support for the Closing the Meal Gap Act and the Enhanced Cybersecurity for SNAP Act.
The releases did not provide estimates for every New York county or specify how the state and local governments will divide the added expense. The practical effect on application processing, local taxes and county budgets will depend on how those costs are absorbed after Oct. 1.
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