ST. PAUL, MN — Minnesota counties are preparing for two major changes to SNAP that will shift more of the program’s costs away from the federal government. The first arrives Oct. 1, when counties will see the federal share of administrative funding fall from 50% to 25%.
State officials say that change alone will cut about $32 million from county budgets. A second shift is expected in October 2027, when some states and local governments may have to cover part of SNAP benefits themselves if a state’s error rate is above 6%.
How the Oct. 1 administrative funding cut changes county budgets
County social services departments use administrative funding to pay staff who determine eligibility, process applications and keep the program running. Barb Dahl, social services director for Scott County, said the lower federal match comes even as the work has become more complicated under new federal rules.
Minnesota is one of only three states where counties pay the non-federal share of economic assistance administration. Dahl said counties will have to do more with less at the same time they are carrying out the work requirements and eligibility changes Congress approved in last year’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”…