By Joe Bachman
Editor

STEVENS POINT — Health and Human Services officials approved a measure that would increase the budget for county child care services.

According to county documents, in 2018, the Portage County Health and Human Services (PCHHS) have placed an “unusually” high number of children which required county care that was not covered by Wisconsin Shares. The budget will be amended to increase the revenue amounts for these services by $14,000.

These services include the need for foster care, or appropriate supervision under various circumstances. According to board member Ray Przybelski, the rules have changed as of recently, which has led to this slight budget adjustment. In the new state rules, program participants must be paid-out before eligibility.

“What it used to be is when you applied, your eligibility went back to the first of the month — the state changed that now to where it’s the date you applied,” said Przybelski to board members. “It doesn’t sound like much, but it is — because in order to achieve payment there are three or four steps in between before we get all of that information back to certify that these people are eligible.”

This will likely receive ultimate approval before the next County Board meeting.