Carver County — Transcript
Tuesday, June 23, 2026
Legislative Impacts and Levy Surcharge Update
State Dysfunction and Unfunded Mandates
Impact of the African-American Family Preservation Act (MAFA)
Staffing and Operational Challenges in Health and Human Services (HHS)
Budget Projections and Levy Surcharge Implications
Votes (1)
Legislative Impacts and Levy Surcharge Update Work Session
Dissent: N/A - Work session, no votes.
The work session opened with an overview of significant state-level dysfunction, including unprecedented delays in state budget allocations, which creates immense uncertainty for the county's financial planning, especially for Health and Human Services (HHS). A major focus was the African-American Family Preservation Act (MAFA), which mandates a shift from 'reasonable' to 'active efforts' in child protection, requiring substantial new costs for relative searches, cultural supports, and increased documentation. The county detailed internal cost-saving measures and efficiencies, such as specializing case management, leveraging AI for documentation, and re-allocating existing staff. Despite these efforts, new positions (3 social workers, 1 paralegal, 1 case aid, 1 county attorney) and contracts (truancy diversion, after-hours on-call, concrete/cultural supports totaling $500k) are projected as necessary to meet these unfunded mandates. Concerns were raised regarding hiring competitiveness, staff burnout, and the potential impact of state psychiatric facility closures on out-of-state placements. The discussion also covered the allocation of existing 2% levy surcharge funds and anticipated one-time state funds for MAFA, emphasizing the need for continued legislative advocacy for the state to fund its mandates.
Notable Quotes (10)
One of the interesting things I'll use a play words, interesting parts of this cycle for the lack of lack of information we're getting from the state and sort of the dysfunction that's going on at the state level. That's kind of a kind of word I'll use there. It is definitely dysfunctional.
This is probably the first year where we haven't gotten a single allocation posted yet. I looked looked even last night, not a single allocation posted yet. And that's going to, you know, that as I'm trying to put together something for Mary Kay, um who wants my files next week, um I I'm doing my best estimates. And that concern that makes me a little worried...
I think a big part of this is the unfunded mandates. Uh I mean, that this is a huge unfunded mandate. So, with the the metro counties kind of getting together and saying we're going to push back against unfunded mandates and um you know, the the active versus reasonable language in that bill was the difference between um on 3.4 million in unfunded mandates.
We're hoping to use AI to be able to do that note-taking... we're hoping to use AI to be able to streamline, be able to create some templates for us, be able to help us with the wording, those kinds of things. So, trying to leverage the technology that we have already in our system.
This law would say doesn't matter if Aunt Lisa knows this person or not, you need to you need to make a they'll say rigorous efforts is what it says in the law, um to to ensure that person, whether kind of whether the family parents want it or not, whether this person can care for those children. And so, it's a different it's a it's a philosophical change.
So average caseload for ongoing orders about 12 to about around 12 to 15 families. So it depends. So and I think the recommended there's no stationary requirements in case load are recommended by the task force is eight ratio eight. So we are higher...
I know you intend it for me. But, I mean, you're still going through as much as this is labeled the African-American Act, it's really a poverty-based or or a bad situation-based situation. Not Not anybody's ability. By the way, I had a neighbor walk by last night. She does volunteer at Bountiful Baskets, and she always brings up that person who comes in there with the with the Mercedes-Benz and needs food. And maybe they do. Um uh but um I have all the faith that you guys are making sure that fraud to this system doesn't occur here, but but you'd have to be in pretty bad shape to take advantage of this program.
I'm actually in support of having a data request specialist cuz I think that raises the bar of expectation of turnaround. And that's just a philosophical thing for me. If we have somebody that's a data specialist, then I think the public's expectation is it turns faster. If we don't have somebody that's specific for that, then it may it may not be as urgent.
Mhm. Yes. Yeah, I think our theme for next year needs to be fund, what you mandate. Simple. Be a simple message.
I'd like to thank you. I think you're doing just an absolute wonderful job. I think all the staff is doing a great job. I think Carver County is very well run. I would think that's mostly Mr. Hemsey. Um, but How about Jennifer? ... But as well as I think Carver County is run, I think that I think the state is just the absolute opposite. Um I think it's You you said dysfunction. I think it's absolutely disgusting what they don't even know what they're doing to us. And because they won't tell us. And uh everyone's playing their cards so close to their chest because they don't know if whether the AG's going to get indicted or the governor's going to get indicted. And all of the fraud that they knew that was going on, then there was pushback against the whistleblowers. And all And all then they passed this on us. And then the chickens are coming home to roost. I This is absolutely disgusting what the state's doing. Elections have consequences. And we need to tell uh every taxpayer in Carver County exactly what the state did to us and are doing to us. And this is addition to all the other mandates that they already have. It's uh uh one I That's I end my rant, but uh
Ordinances & Resolutions (18)
A budgetary adjustment to account for increased costs due to legislative mandates, discussed in the context of a 2% increase.
A state law requiring 'active efforts' in child protection for relative searches and cultural supports, driving significant new costs for counties.
The county's financial plan and projections, heavily impacted by state legislative changes and delayed allocations.
State funds provided to counties for various programs, discussed in the context of their delayed and uncertain receipt.
A specific type of state allocation to counties, noted for its unpredictable formula and recent decrease for Carver County.
Referenced in the context of a SNAP cost shift, indicating a legislative impact on HHS finances.
A federal program administered by counties, discussed for increased application rates and timely processing.
A federal/state health program administered by counties, discussed for increased application rates and timely processing.
A specific state aid that has experienced a small decrease in funding for the county.
A federal law cited as a comparison for compliance audits and potential withholding of funds due to non-compliance, analogous to MAFA.
The state law governing public and private data, requiring specialized knowledge for data retrieval and redaction.
A specific Minnesota statute that heavily influences child protection work and related data requests.
A federal law protecting sensitive patient health information, which must be strictly followed during data requests and redaction.
A federal law providing job-protected leave, impacting staffing levels in HHS due to staff taking extended leave.
A program operated in collaboration with neighboring counties, utilizing state grants to provide preventive services and cultural supports.
A child protection practice framework used by the county for many years, which includes robust safety planning.
State-built facilities for children with high-acuity mental health needs, whose recent closures cause concern for future out-of-state placements.
A recent legislative change redirecting 10-12 year olds who commit crimes from the criminal system to the child protection system, increasing caseloads.