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After being introduced two weeks ago, the county budget has entered into the next phase of the process, department hearings. The Cuyahoga County Department of Health and Human Services had the honor of being the first department to go before County Council, and it will take two hearings to cover the department’s entire budget. The first hearing, which took place on October 20, 2025, included a brief overview of the entire department by Director Merriman and many programs within the department.
This included the Office of Child Support Services, the Fatherhood Initiative, and the divisions of Children & Family Services, Jobs & Family Services, and Senior & Adult Services. Each entity’s budget is discussed in more detail below.
This was a tough budget, and tough budgets require tough decisions to be made.
Department of Health and Human Services
Department of Health and Human Services Director David Merriman kicked off the hearing by sharing the strategic considerations of the Department during the budget development process. The four strategic considerations are:
- Federal & State Policy Changes: H.R. 1 (One Big Beautiful Bill), its impact on the county, and awaiting the state’s response.
- Collective Bargaining Agreements.
- Building Modernizations.
- Non-profit Partnerships: The importance of these partnerships to the county and how he is hopeful these partnerships sustain through the tough budget cycle.
He then reiterated the sentiment shared by County Executive Ronayne at the budget’s introduction and the concern of advocates across the county. This was a tough budget, and tough budgets require tough decisions to be made. He noted that the need for Cuyahoga County’s health and human services has not decreased even though funding for services is decreasing because of increased delinquent property tax payments.
Health and Human Service (HHS) Levy fund, which is supported by the county’s two health and human service levies, is expected to bring in $279.3 million in 2026 and this will support $279.2 million in expenditures, which will leave a surplus of $57,910. For 2027, the levies are expected to generate $280.3 million in revenue, and this will support $279.0 million in expenditures, leaving a surplus of $1.3 million. This level of expenditure will support $27.7 million less for 2026 and $26.0 million less for 2027 compared to the Q2 2025 estimates provided by the administration.
Children & Family Services
Director Jacqueline Fletcher provided the budget overview for the Division of Children and Family Services. The recommended budget supports expenditures of $172.1 million for 2026 and $170.2 million for 2027. This level of expenditure will provide $16.2 million less for 2026 and $18.1 million less for 2027 compared to the Q2 2025 estimates but is consistent with 2023 and 2024 spending levels. The expenditure reductions are primarily from reduced spending on contracts, programs, and subsidies within the Division. Director Fletcher noted that no organization faced a contract being entirely cut, but many did face reductions to either prior year spending or current year’s spending. The table below illustrates the reductions.
While the administration reports that spending was “rightsized” to current or prior year spending, this belief was not necessarily shared among the organizations/programs receiving cuts. Canopy – Child Protection Team testified at the hearing and noted that spending was lagging from losing a key staff member and that a replacement has been hired, and spending will pick back up. Councilman Sweeney also noted that during the Council’s recent HHS Committee hearing Canopy asked for an extension on 2025 funding.
Job & Family Services
Director Kevin Gowan provided the Division of Job & Family Services’ budget overview. Much of his presentation focused on providing context to the Council on all the changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid that were included in the federal reconciliation bill.
The Division of Job & Family Services is still waiting for additional guidance, and it is unknown on when it will come.
Gowan noted that while some guidance has been provided with relation to the new SNAP non-citizen eligibility requirements and the expansion of SNAP work requirements to new age groups with the federal government being shut down, the Division is still waiting for additional guidance, and it is unknown on when it will come. In addition to the eligibility changes that have begun to take place that the County must handle, there are more SNAP challenges on the horizon related to SNAP funding.
The federal government will now only be financing 25% of the administrative costs of the SNAP program, instead of 50%, which contributes to a minimum $7.0 million loss in operating funds for the county and for the first time ever, SNAP benefits will no longer be entirely federally funded, and states will contribute funding based upon the state’s error rate. The recommended budget would provide $104.2 million for 2026 and $106.2 million for 2027. This is $1.9 million more for 2026 and $3.9 million for 2027 compared to Q2 2025 estimates. This added funding reflects the need for the Division to respond to the challenges ahead.
Office of Child Support Services
Director Tiffany Dobbins-Brazelton provided the Office of Child Support Services’ budget overview and highlighted that the recommended budget provides $38.4 million for 2026 and $38.9 million for 2027. This is $3.4 million less for 2026 and $2.9 million less for 2027 compared to the Q2 2025 estimates.
The Office’s primary funding source is not the HHS levy fund, but is a combination of federal funding, local matching funds, and program income. The reduction in spending reflects reduced contracts which are overwhelmingly paid to other county general fund agencies.
Fatherhood Initiative
Administrator Al Grimes provided an overview of the Fatherhood Initiative’s budget and highlighted that the administration’s budget provides $1.1 million in 2026 and 2027. This funding includes a 2% cost of living increase to the Initiative’s three staff members offset by a 10% reduction in contracts each year. He closed by noting that this budget will result in reduced services in each of the Initiative’s 11 funded programs.
Senior & Adult Services
Director Natasha Pietrocola provided the budget overview for the Division of Senior & Adult Services and noted that the administration’s recommended budget provides $28.3 million for 2026 and $28.6 million for 2027. While this level of spending is fairly consistent with the Q2 2025 estimates it does include approximately $400,000 less for the Community Social Services Program and $1.4 million less for the Options for Independent Livings program each year of the budget.
The County and its nonprofit partners remain committed to protecting Cuyahoga County’s most vulnerable residents.
Looking ahead
After the first day of health and human service budget hearings it is clear that while the budget is leaner and tense moments have been created due to the multiple fiscal pressures converging at once, the County and its nonprofit partners remain committed to protecting Cuyahoga County’s most vulnerable residents.
The next hearing is scheduled for October 28, 2025, at 1:00 p.m.
The Center for Community Solutions will continue to report on the health and human service provisions of the budget and advocate for a strong safety net for Cuyahoga County’s residents.
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