Children’s Cove budget growth prompts delegates to delay recommendation for more detail

Delegates deferred a vote on the Children’s Cove FY27 budget after a detailed presentation revealed roughly a 21.78% increase across FY24–FY26 and prompted requests for deeper financial breakdowns.

Delegate Ali and others praised the Cove’s report and the department’s responses to committee questions, calling the material “helpful.” But several members said the Cove’s general-fund portion — proposed at approximately $681,641 for FY27 — has grown faster than county revenue and asked for a specific compensation history for positions paid from the general fund (excluding grant-funded staff). “From FY24 to FY26, we've seen a 21.78% growth in that budget,” one delegate said, adding that a sustained 9% annual increase is not aligned with county revenue growth.

Delegates asked staff to provide the requested compensation and fringe-allocation detail by the next meeting (members discussed a Friday deadline so they could review before reconvening). Some members suggested exploring state-level funding through the district attorney’s office or other partners for longer-term support; committee leadership and administration agreed to collect and circulate the requested data before the committee meets again.