[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6136546,"mediaKeyId","5667250-b423e61b4bacf5213c8c37d57f32eb1c","parentId",5667250,"title","Economic Support team highlights client successes while county funding and reimbursement face uncertainty","audioSeconds",699,"startMs",1714000,"endMs",2413000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5667250-b423e61b4bacf5213c8c37d57f32eb1c&start=1714&end=2413","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5667250-b423e61b4bacf5213c8c37d57f32eb1c/thumbnail_1714000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6136546/Dunn-County/Wisconsin/Economic-Support-team-highlights-client-successes-while-county-funding-and-reimbursement-face-uncertainty","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6136546-b124d47909f337ed134cbc1a4f6b225d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770501547&Signature=C2d5GjjqZ6xOk3p2A8tq7kQxNWnADkP9gHnjnbIIJ3dOsjEuiURcvmQfsT~BFPYPnUlqfK-iJrFCgNOv78OXGFTnH~gOYBjwhOIycX9~BUjE5AUE2JZGNwpR9m19~CEGwfS2nQNrrQgBtgJMYlhcyEYzqgrtPE~PrOD~XBYTZQGiw4epsmJgLHpnh5pq6y~D7gWPslg4mVtcTsp4NLMPIIij4LGOAzDsB~rIDaKlEBqNArQXEcLZMAWbpRIE-shBmV~HvEDGwk9dy0xmHLKfc8MioUnmfCirKR~Dk6FS2n9VLCpX7an6mvlsjn97meVzbDmdwZo00dXUB0Ost6do3g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Dunn County, Wisconsin","date","2025-08-22T00:00:00Z","article","Jessica Lindstrom (Economic Support manager) presented “bright spots” from the Great Rivers Consortium’s economic support team and summarized program outputs and finances during the Aug. 21 meeting. The consortium serves 10 counties; Jessica said Great Rivers processed just over 44,000 new applications for public benefits in 2024, averaging about 3,700 applications per month across the consortium. She said Dunn County residents received more than $7 million in FoodShare benefits in 2024.

Jessica described staff work as fast-paced, episodic and critical for residents in crisis (homelessness, incarceration, job loss, medical need, eldercare). She read several verbatim caller thank-you notes and case examples illustrating how benefits stabilized households: a caller who began receiving workers’ compensation after nearly a year and called to thank staff; a caregiver who avoided asking an elderly parent for a loan after FoodShare assistance; and a client whose benefit continuity preserved therapy access.

Paula and KT (health director) then presented the program’s finances and funding structure. They reported the consortium’s total 2024 economic support spending at about $1.3–$1.4 million, the majority for staff. The county provides a portion of the local match — about $297,102 was cited for Dunn County — and the state-designated maintenance-of-effort (MOE) obligation was described as $363,800; some local matching is covered from other departmental allocations (AMSO and indirect cost shares). Paula said counties receive indirect and administrative reimbursements that historically offset a large portion of shared costs.

A major policy risk flagged by staff is a statewide change that reduces counties’ ability to bill certain Medicaid administrative and indirect costs: the department had budgeted assuming billing at 50%, but the state’s biennial actions cut that claimed rate toward 25% effective in July 2025. Paula and Jessica said the 2026 draft budget still assumed 50% because state replacement policy was unclear at the time the draft was prepared; they warned the reduction could represent a substantial net funding loss and said they were monitoring statewide associations and pending guidance.

Board members asked for comparative data and transparency about staffing. Paula provided a table of the 10-county consortium makeup, noting Eau Claire is the lead county and has more staff; Dunn’s staff and program scale are roughly comparable to other counties of similar size. Board members requested additional finance comparisons and asked staff to keep the committee informed as state policy unfolds.

No formal action was taken; the presentation was informational. Staff reiterated the department will update the board as grant awards, state guidance and reimbursement assumptions change.

Quoted material in this article is taken from the meeting transcript of the Dunn County Health and Human Services Board, Aug. 21, 2025.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Dunn County Health and Human Services Committee - 08/21/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Jessica Lindstrom (Economic Support manager) presented program highlights and case examples while staff warned that a state change reducing Medicaid administrative reimbursement creates budget risk.","taxTitle","taxId",53943,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6136551,"County staff: running mobile-home inspection program would lose money unless fees rise; board pauses action",845,699000,1544000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5667250-b423e61b4bacf5213c8c37d57f32eb1c&start=699&end=1544","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5667250-b423e61b4bacf5213c8c37d57f32eb1c/thumbnail_699000.jpg","/articles/6136551/Dunn-County/Wisconsin/County-staff-running-mobile-home-inspection-program-would-lose-money-unless-fees-rise-board-pauses-action","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6136551-e9e2010f33ce20f59b2fd575322bbf13/orig.mp4?Expires=1770501547&Signature=YRJj3iSnlbC9qmuEJkj~3IT2UPdVYJrExCv2g0rr7D46sZAaWyH9ueqNKJ23RIeE98dTvKoojB9BKFOiz0zA1m9tGltNGm-Ly2YeDADF48F2EtVRwC5xtAOZz~leS7hNb14U4vrXCyRamxf5YGBoCDOxXBVIvNPv5sS35TfJcrIcMIjfKW-guZV3Y9He0BB~pVfieKeMLTdRbU761SZYc45Yy4i-b-5ZZlFQl~NEevKxd2dRzx1ofYLwUb3IuT-LX8HffHZEXlcR89gTBy4Sp0xWHOGuVeNA2f2oE4XctS-xuiydud1mm00~tYLvtJYS8F674qvQLxCII4uuaKqpJg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jeff (staff member) presented an Excel-based cost estimate for establishing and operating a county-run inspection program for manufactured-home communities. His presentation showed large one-time startup costs in year one — training, program development, inspection setup, and a health-data system — and recurring annual costs thereafter. The analysis factored in the state reimbursement to the county for license work (Department of Safety and Professional Services, DSPS) set at 37 percent.

Jeff’s examples included two fee scenarios: keeping fees aligned with DSPS charges and doubling DSPS-equivalent fees. Under the DSPS-equivalent fees, the first year example produced an approximate $11,000 deficit; in routine years afterward the program still showed about a $5,000 shortfall. Under the doubled-fee scenario the first year deficit narrowed but the program would still take a few years to break even. Jeff said neighboring counties charge higher fees and that hiring a limited-term employee (three to five years) would likely be required to implement the program.

Board discussion centered on policy goals and unintended consequences. Doctor Hall questioned whether taking on inspections would advance the county’s goal of ensuring safe housing, noting that closing parks for violations could remove affordable units and worsen housing shortages. Supervisor Steen expressed the view that the county could end up incurring enforcement costs and public-relations consequences and said the program did not appear financially viable at this time.

Several speakers raised operational concerns: locating unlicensed parks could require staff time because some owners are out-of-state, and raising fees might result in owners either passing costs to residents or refusing to pay, which would create enforcement costs (including potential court action). Jeff agreed the park owners would likely pass costs to residents and that an increased complaints volume could follow if the county assumed enforcement responsibility.

Decision and next steps: The board opted not to adopt a county-run mobile-home inspection program at this time. Staff were directed to continue enforcing the county’s existing human health hazard ordinance (responding to complaints about potable water, sewer, heat, and electricity) and to compile data on complaints received so the board can assess scope and geographical distribution. Doctor Hall asked staff to gather complaint data and return with an electronic record within approximately six months so the board could better understand the problem’s scale.

This article reports discussion, analysis and the board’s direction to collect more information; no ordinance or program was adopted at the Aug. 21 meeting.","Jeff (staff member) presented an Excel-based estimate showing the county-run mobile-home park inspection program would run a deficit in year one unless fees were raised substantially.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6136555,"Dunn County human services budget shows shifting figures as board hears public hearing overview",641,6000,647000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5667250-b423e61b4bacf5213c8c37d57f32eb1c&start=6&end=647","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5667250-b423e61b4bacf5213c8c37d57f32eb1c/thumbnail_6000.jpg","/articles/6136555/Dunn-County/Wisconsin/Dunn-County-human-services-budget-shows-shifting-figures-as-board-hears-public-hearing-overview","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6136555-70543aca3b9ecf2299ed325d1451f28d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770501547&Signature=GSvDCCFIhd2IHVDJuuH3Vv7F7yf2sF4r1VlJJSogbnT4fPQjJrMhuvQEL0LTUGzwveHd4gytfScdPaK5Ncw1zCa6YESaUNlnipJalHFjs~AcqJDgcnwACBwN6h-YCxU8ppFdGiBep6Jw6J5HdlxZ8yEn5TdEO3HwXcmveDwHECU5ei~PUFLHwlTqelwpbmA86m1mX94S~clS5ME~8YuSzyakZU7~mIQZ9JrYvbNu8CK0jn-sR5ms1Bt5sZxVBoy5igAqfWcyDlhGhw9ZdEbgpHBLGJ1gUFcSmrQ96lAyv6sg33uSJliPd5TYQhYxGHvAbeaG4jQY76gEQKCYg~DDUg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Paula (Human Services director) opened the Aug. 21 public hearing on the Dunn County Human Services proposed 2026 budget and told the board the levy request and overall numbers have shifted several times during the drafting process. She said the department initially identified an additional levy request in the low hundreds of thousands but presented several revised figures during the meeting as new information arrived.

The budget matters because changes to grant funding and state reimbursement rules affect what programs the county can sustain and how much taxpayer levy must cover. Human Services staff told the board they removed two full-time positions from the draft to reflect discontinuing grants, moved staff and expenses between programs, and incorporated estimated salary and fringe increases.

Paula said one of the major changes was the end of the first-episode psychosis grant: staff working under that grant will move to Medicaid-billable provider roles (CCS) and the county will not be able to serve people who lack Medicaid coverage under that model. She also said funding for a family-and-children services unit was no longer available and adjustments were made in salaries and program allocations to account for reduced external revenue.

Board members and staff repeatedly noted that figures presented on screen during the hearing differed from the packet that had been publicly noticed. Paula and Dan (staff) told the board the on-screen figures reflected updated health-premium and fringe information received after the packet was posted. Paula said the county budgeting process is “always in flux” and numbers can change between notice and hearing.

Financial risk and timing were raised as central concerns. KT (Health Department director) and Paula both flagged a separate statewide budget change that reduced county ability to bill certain Medicaid administrative costs: the department had been assuming a 50% reimbursement on a portion of indirect/AMSO costs when preparing the draft; the new biennial state action reduces that to 25% starting in mid‑2025, and the county has not yet received clear guidance or replacement funding. Paula cautioned the board the 50% assumption remained in the draft 2026 budget only because the state had not confirmed how it would address the change, and that the department may need to revisit projections when the state clarifies policy.

Fiscal pressure will also come from client placement costs. Paula informed the board that staff had signed a new placement contract for a child with very high needs at a daily rate of $1,300 — roughly $474,000 on an annualized basis — and that this placement was not included in earlier year-to-date projections. She said the department had exhausted other placement and in‑home supports before approving the contract because providers were unable to safely continue care.

The board took no formal action to adopt the budget at the hearing. Later in the meeting the committee approved several budget adjustments (see actions attached to the article) including a $100,000 award to support evidence-based harm-reduction strategies; that adjustment was authorized at the meeting with a required match provided from the county’s opioid settlement funds. Paula and other staff said they would continue to update the board as grant and reimbursement figures change and bring revised budgets back as new information becomes available.

What happened next: The board adjourned the human services budget public hearing and proceeded with regular meeting business including minutes approval and subsequent budget adjustments. Staff said they will return with updated budget information as the state clarifies Medicaid administrative claiming and as placement costs and other high‑cost, unpredictable needs emerge.

Quoted material in this article is taken from the meeting transcript of the Dunn County Health and Human Services Board, Aug. 21, 2025. No facts beyond the transcript were added.","At a public hearing on Aug. 21, Dunn County Human Services officials outlined changing 2026 budget figures, cited grant reductions and program shifts, and warned that a recent high-cost placement and uncertain state changes to Medicaid administrative reimbursement increase fiscal risk.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6136536,"Dunn County Health Department monitors measles exposure, reaches out to low-immunity school communities",165,3989000,4154000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5667250-b423e61b4bacf5213c8c37d57f32eb1c&start=3989&end=4154","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5667250-b423e61b4bacf5213c8c37d57f32eb1c/thumbnail_3989000.jpg","/articles/6136536/Dunn-County/Wisconsin/Dunn-County-Health-Department-monitors-measles-exposure-reaches-out-to-low-immunity-school-communities","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6136536-4dc27088d9415940c6c616d85e77193c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770501547&Signature=VZUWJZPBH-p-ehXIoma2pcAc9~H0peotT9fVOdC-a5XaQXfkhUlac-8CpxAvOXDoFdO-Z0LJX8Gm5qe58ldqnyzUJZRkBcUKCvJGZ2PqV8QY3hnKbJUAZsDvgRwWglgm1bNiIMmobdadCPh~kLSQMSxNmdnpfTWaiw9NyBPQkPrIcnrBKIXyXBYrWq1W-4tFCd48py-zjIqIDszN4iVaV~TNOxn3PkIEPpUGOMHof30x5iY-KBVHRczzjEak5ygcyS03tu0X6376o07wuaqRzGAHzxVi8mfRRbWCPliZoCQC9a7MIB6rch9cR4jIq4yP0KhugQXG6byKuku1O8PPsA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","KT (Health Department director) alerted the board to a measles investigation connected to cases and exposures in Oconto County and an out‑of‑state case who passed through Hammond and visited a location in Beloit while symptomatic. KT said local public‑health staff were reviewing a two‑hour exposure window at the Flying J in Hammond and notifying potential contacts.

KT told the board that community‑based providers who serve Plain (Amish/Mennonite) communities in the region are concerned about unreported cases and additional exposures due to low immunization coverage in some local schools and communities. She said the department is working with school nurses and administrators at a Mennonite school and other local schools with low immunization rates to make sure they know available supports and to encourage appropriate quarantine and clinical follow-up for exposed, unvaccinated individuals.

Public-health staff asked residents exposed in the described locations who are unvaccinated to watch for symptoms and to call a health-care provider before seeking care in person to avoid additional contagion. KT said current confirmed Wisconsin cases were limited at the time of the meeting but that the department remains alert and will coordinate with state public‑health authorities as new information becomes available.

This is an informational update; no emergency orders or mass interventions were announced at the Aug. 21 meeting.","Health department staff reported a confirmed Wisconsin measles case and associated exposures tied to travel and a statewide cluster; they are notifying schools with low immunization rates, working with providers that serve Plain communities, and advising exposed, unvaccinated people to quarantine and contact clinicians before seeking care.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":56,"_68":69,"_70":56,"_71":72,"_73":72},6136541,"Dunn County’s new water lab turns profit in early months after partnership with Land & Water",367,4277000,4644000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5667250-b423e61b4bacf5213c8c37d57f32eb1c&start=4277&end=4644","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5667250-b423e61b4bacf5213c8c37d57f32eb1c/thumbnail_4277000.jpg","/articles/6136541/Dunn-County/Wisconsin/Dunn-Countys-new-water-lab-turns-profit-in-early-months-after-partnership-with-Land-Water","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6136541-c67ef4634ade95c8313dad9e00e38b22/orig.mp4?Expires=1770501547&Signature=Uabjd8GVb6xf0d1LjHcQ9Pij3iWLXYjJpMKnQqn09Wn6GO4GLJ0LEsgekCAKXr4zyN~d0qiPJYpQV04juUniJX2l5HVw6ANLOI7N~-H9KPuNtMhwtyrrz1OmxSjZZdTU55Zz30l6gmN6Vf6wKWE3E6wvDgYuO~J4QnMO-WgtlRG8F-A4HeQzajhVc7JPQz1SE0mW~SFivXzTM4Q51Sd7rzjzrQv-yNjPxsqUUqkkub-LUoHlEAqyh5rmWuiEJtQIIQC3tcFmBWW9jDfRj2wfMIr8qT43pLXLEHZv4mlrSOljrb2JAbZmffUx1PRYDxXQbnk6crntmRohKKsVWkYzHw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Amy (Environmental Health specialist) told the board the county’s laboratory for private well and nonmunicipal water testing has been operating for roughly six to eight months and, with recent batch sampling, produced a modest net positive result. Amy said the lab processed 311 nitrate samples supplied through a Land & Water Conservation Department project and that batch processing of those samples reduced per-sample costs to about $19.90 for nitrate testing.

Amy said costs for single-sample runs can approach $35 per nitrate test; the lab set its public fee at $30 per nitrate test and $25 for bacterial tests (coliform/E. coli). With the Land & Water project’s volume the lab posted about $3,000 net revenue for the period covered by the presentation. Overall, Amy said the water lab had processed more than 500 samples in the first eight months and that the average cost per nitrate sample across all workload was around $21–$22.

Opportunities identified include expanding outreach to private well owners to increase sample volume, offering invoicing and billing to nonmunicipal systems (OTMs and NTNC systems such as mobile-home parks and rural workplaces) whose sample submitters may not have a payment mechanism at sample drop-off, and repeating the partnership with Land & Water next year (staff said the Land & Water program has funds for a repeat). Amy and KT said the lab’s early success demonstrates local capability to keep testing dollars in‑county rather than outsourcing.

Paula and KT clarified that lab “profit” is not profit in the commercial sense but that revenue helps cover operating costs, media and consumables, and can contribute to equipment depreciation or future investments in the program.

The board congratulated Amy and staff and asked to expand public awareness of the county lab as a nearby option for private well testing. No formal vote or budget action was taken; staff said they will pursue billing options and seek grant support for continued partnership activities if available.","Dunn County’s on-site water lab has processed hundreds of samples since starting operations and reported a small net surplus after batch processing and a large Land & Water partnership; staff proposed expanding outreach and invoicing options to increase private-well and nonmunicipal system testing.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Economic Support team highlights client successes while county funding and reimbursement face uncertainty

County staff: running mobile-home inspection program would lose money unless fees rise; board pauses action

Dunn County human services budget shows shifting figures as board hears public hearing overview

Dunn County Health Department monitors measles exposure, reaches out to low-immunity school communities

Dunn County’s new water lab turns profit in early months after partnership with Land & Water