Politics & Government

Document: Washington County Officials Outline Priority Programs Under Minnesota Shutdown

Washington County administrators are starting to prioritize programs in preparation for an extended Minnesota state government shutdown.

The heads of four Washington County departments outlined which programs may have to be cut if the state government shutdown drags on.

According to Washington County Administrator Jim Schug, it’s a matter of calculating risk.

The county can continue to provide state-mandated services, but officials are still unsure whether the cost of those services will be reimbursed by the state after the government shutdown ends.

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Against that backdrop, the heads of four county departments each presented a “decision matrix” that outlined which programs should stay and which may have to be cut in the event of a prolonged shutdown. (See the PDF with this story.)

Some of the programs discussed at the Tuesday, July 12, board meeting are still being considered by the special master for inclusion on the “essential” services list for the state, Schug said.

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The matrices follow a previously stated county directive to weigh programs based on their need and how much funding they receive from the state. 


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