To: Board of Supervisors
From: Marla Stuart, Employment and Human Services Director
Report Title: Plan to Respond to Impacts of the Federal Shutdown related to CalFresh
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. ADOPT a resolution proclaiming a local emergency caused by the disruption of funding for CalFresh food assistance benefits, including the activation of County disaster service workers.
2. ALLOCATE up to $21,000,000 from the General Fund from the following sources and in the following order to purchase debit cards for distribution to CalFresh eligible households for the month of November 2025 and DIRECT the County Administrator, or designee to prepare a Budget Amendment to effectuate the final allocation decision of the Board of Supervisors:
a. $8,181,373. General Fund Unassigned Fund Balance. This is the amount of COVID-19 FEMA reimbursement revenue that was received by the County after the FY25-26 Budget Adoption and is currently not appropriated in FY25-26. (4/5 Vote Required)
b. $9,729,868. Appropriation for Contingencies. This is the amount of COVID-19 FEMA reimbursement that was deposited into the Appropriation for Contingencies during the FY25-26 Budget Adoption. (4/5 Vote Required)
c. $3,088,759. Appropriation for Contingencies. (4/5 Vote Required)
3. AUTHORIZE the distribution of debit cards to November CalFresh Eligible Households and authorize the Employment and Human Services Director to execute a related contract or contract amendment.
4. DIRECT the Employment and Human Services Director to report to the Board of Supervisors, within 60 days, on the need for continuing the local emergency.
5. PROVIDE additional direction to staff on steps to mitigate the disruption of funding for CalFresh food assistance benefits.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Up to $21,000,000. 100% County General Fund.
BACKGROUND:
SNAP is a 100% federally funded benefit for households with incomes below 100% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Benefit amounts are based on income and household size. In California, SNAP is called CalFresh. In September, 65,318 Contra Costa County households with 107,020 individuals received CalFresh for a total benefit issuance of $21,089,996.
In past government shutdowns, the State of California has temporarily covered the federal costs of SNAP benefits and been reimbursed upon approval of the federal budget. This time, the federal government has prohibited states from funding the SNAP benefit amount. California has taken several steps to limit the impact, including:
1) advancing $80 million in FY 25/26 CalFood allocations to food banks, including $2.2 million to the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano;
2) authorizing California Volunteers and National Guard to provide people power and logistical support for food banks;
3) opening the California Department of Social Servies (CDSS) Department Operations Center (DOC) to provide coordination and support to counties and other partners; and
4) joining 19 other states in filing a Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief in the District of Massachusetts (Case 1:25-cv-13165).
The Employment and Human Services Department has devised a plan to continue to provide CalFresh benefits. See attached “Staff Report w/ Footnotes” for additional information.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
The County will not be able to provide CalFresh benefits during the government shutdown.