HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 2022 (50) Resolution No. 50 (2022)
T. R%O 11d .RUNTY RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF INCREASED COUNTY CHILD
SUPPORT FUNDING
COVER MEMO
TO: County Board of Supervisors
FROM: Ken Witt, County Administrator
Lisa Plunkett, Child Support Administrator, Child Support
DATE: December 6, 2022
AGENDA ITEM: Resolution in Support of Increased County Child Support Funding
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Wisconsin Child Support Enforcement Association(WCSEA) would like to encourage legislators
from every corner of the state to support the request for increased child support funding. There is strength
in numbers so the WCSEA is requesting every county to support this resolution.
Legislators listen to their local constituents, and St. Croix County could mean the difference between
stagnant child support agency funding and counties obtaining the resources required to provide
Wisconsin's families the child support services they need and deserve.
Resolution No. 50 (2022)
T. R%O 11d .RUNTY RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF INCREASED COUNTY CHILD
�77),roa,S/a SUPPORT FUNDING
1 WHEREAS, St Croix County administers the Child Support Enforcement Program on
2 behalf of the State of Wisconsin, providing a holistic set of services to St Croix County children
3 and their parents, including paternity establishment, assistance with finding employment,
4 obtaining child support, and establishing health insurance orders for children, and enforcing and
5 modifying those orders; and
6
7 WHEREAS, child support is one of the most effective anti-poverty programs in the state,
8 with county child support agencies serving approximately 347,000 children and collecting
9 roughly $906 million in financial support for Wisconsin families in 2021; and
10
11 WHEREAS, child support is proven to reduce childhood poverty rates, lead to better
12 educational and behavioral outcomes for children, and have a positive effect on food security,
13 health, and housing stability; and
14
15 WHEREAS, county child support agencies work closely with both parents to ensure that
16 they have the help they need to be successful, including assistance with finding employment,
17 referrals to other social service programs, and right-sizing orders for individuals impacted by
18 substances use disorders or other challenges; and
19
20 WHEREAS, State funding for county child support services has failed to keep up with
21 county agency costs, which have steadily increased due to a high number of caseloads per
22 worker, increased complexity of cases, inflation, and new regulations; and
23
24 WHEREAS, an abrupt federal interpretation change in June 2019 eliminated $4.2
25 million in federal birth cost recovery matching funds for Wisconsin; and
26
27 WHEREAS, Wisconsin's strong performance in child support is at risk without
28 additional funding. The state has already dropped from 2nd in the nation for the collection of
29 current support in 2016 to 6th in the nation in 2021; and
30
31 WHEREAS, without additional state funds, county child support agencies may need to
32 eliminate positions, further increase caseloads, or reduce services, further impacting federal
33 performance measures, which would result in the loss of additional federal funds; and
34
35 WHEREAS, the individuals most impacted by insufficient funding for child support are
36 the children and families served by county child support agencies, who will need to seek out
37 public assistance programming absent the financial security provided by the child support
38 program; and
39
40 WHEREAS, State investments in child support are amplified by a generous federal
41 match. Every $1 of state GPR invested in the Child Support Program generates roughly $2 in
42 federal matching funds; and
43
44 WHEREAS, Wisconsin's Child Support Enforcement Program is incredibly cost-
45 effective, collecting an average of$6.43 in support for every dollar invested in the program.
46
47 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the St. Croix County Board of
48 Supervisors respectfully requests that state funding for county child support agencies be
49 increased by $5 million GPR in each fiscal year of the 2023-25 Wisconsin state budget, which
50 will generate approximately $9.7 million in additional federal funding each year. This investment
51 will ensure that Wisconsin counties can continue to effectively provide economic support to our
52 children.
53
54 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be forwarded by the
55 County Clerk to the Governor of the State of Wisconsin, State Senators and State
56 Representatives representing St. Croix County, the Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of
57 Administration, and the Wisconsin Counties Association for consideration
Le—gal—Fiscal—Administrative Approvals:
Legal Note:
Fiscal Impact: Increase in State General Purpose Revenue,which will generate additional
matching funds from the Federal government. The specific amount unknown.
�OJAH N , � MA--A
Heat ]er UtTos,Corporation Counsel 10/30/2022
4 ,
n on, Finance Dir or 0/31/2022
K &V414t, t ,drnin r r 10/31/2022
11/03/22 Public Protection &Judiciary Committee APPROVED
RESULT: APPROVED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Cathy Leaf, Supervisor
SECONDER: Paul Adams, Supervisor
AYES: Leaf, Adams, Feidler, Carlson, Ramberg
Vote Confirmation.
Bob Feidler PPJ Chair 11/29/2022
St. Croix County Board of Supervisors Action:
Roll Call -Vote Requirement—Majority of Supervisors Present
RESULT: ADOPTED [17 TO 1]
MOVER: Dave Ostness, Mark Carlson
AYES: Anderson, Long, Leaf, Adams, Berning, Ottino, Feidler, Ostness, Counter,
Hansen, Sherley, Tellijohn, Carlson, Barcalow, Swanepoel, VanSomeren,
Ramberg
NAYS: Lisa Lind
EXCUSED: Carah Koch
This Resolution was Adopted by the St. Croix County Board of Supervisors on December 6, 2022
Christine Hines, County Clerk