Senate subcommittee approves $515.3 million FY27 budget for Department of Family and Community Services

Senator Giesel moved and the Senate Budget Subcommittee adopted the panel's fiscal year 2027 numbers and language report for the Department of Family and Community Services during a brief meeting April 17, 2025. The subcommittee's chair, Senator Stedman, opened the session at about 12:15 p.m. and asked staff to present the report before adoption.

Rose Foley, staff to Senator Stedman, presented the subcommittee's recommendation, saying, "A total budget of $515,268,700." She laid out the fund mix: $290,578,500 in unrestricted general funds, $31,761,800 in designated general funds, $106,282,500 in other funds and $86,545,900 in federal funds. Foley told the panel the subcommittee recommends a total of 1,971 positions, including 1,867 permanent full-time positions, five permanent part-time positions and 99 temporary positions.

Foley said the panel reviewed the governor's amended request and approved the requested transactions. Notable additions and language adopted by the subcommittee included implementation of an information-technology classification study throughout the department, a reduction in certain receipt authority across multiple budget allocations, and an incremental $1,500,000 to support child advocacy centers around the state. The subcommittee also added language permitting transfers of up to $5,000,000 between appropriations within the department, with the specific exception that no transfers may be made out of the Office of Children Services.

In opening the motion, Senator Giesel said, "I move the attached budget action and wordage report from the Senate Budget Subcommittee for the Department of Family and Community Services," and further moved that legislative finance and legislative legal be authorized to make technical and conforming changes as necessary. After staff presentation, Senator Stedman removed his earlier objection to adoption, no other objections were raised, and the reports were adopted.

The meeting concluded shortly after the vote. Senator Stedman thanked Valerie Rose, a finance analyst, for her work on the report; the subcommittee adjourned at about 12:18 p.m.

Provenance: The motion, staff presentation and adoption appear in the subcommittee's transcript of April 17, 2025 (motion introduced by Senator Giesel; staff presentation by Rose Foley; adoption announced by Senator Stedman).