Fitzpatrick: A two-year delay would give Congress, New York State and counties the time necessary to work toward a sustainable solution
From Steuben County NY
The Steuben County Legislature has adopted a resolution calling on the United States Congress to delay for two years new federal cost-sharing requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) established under H.R. 1, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”
The resolution, approved Monday morning during the Steuben County Legislature’s monthly meeting, calls for the federal government to postpone the new SNAP administrative cost shift from Federal Fiscal Year 2027 to Federal Fiscal Year 2029. It also calls for a corresponding two-year delay of a new SNAP benefit cost-sharing requirement tied to payment error rates.
Under the federal changes, the federal share of SNAP administrative costs is scheduled to decrease from 50 percent to 25 percent beginning October 1, 2026. Because New York State requires counties to administer SNAP and share in its administrative costs, the resolution states that the change could result in significant additional costs for county governments and local property taxpayers.
The resolution estimates that the administrative cost shift could total approximately $168 million annually statewide, including approximately $57 million for the 57 counties outside New York City. Steuben County’s estimated additional administrative cost is approximately $1 million annually.
The resolution also notes that additional federal verification, reporting, tracking and work requirements are expected to increase administrative responsibilities and could require additional staffing, training and technology investments.
Beginning October 1, 2027, H.R. 1 also establishes a new state cost-sharing requirement for SNAP benefits based on payment error rates. The resolution notes that New York’s current payment error rate exceeds 10 percent and states that the resulting potential exposure could reach approximately $1.1 billion annually statewide.
The resolution emphasizes that SNAP payment error rates do not necessarily represent fraud, waste or abuse, and can result from circumstances such as changes in earned income, benefit levels, paperwork or delayed reporting.
Steuben County Legislature Chair Kelly Fitzpatrick said the resolution is intended to give Congress and New York State additional time to address the financial impact of the federal changes.
“Our goal is to make sure that Steuben County is prepared for the financial responsibilities being placed on counties while also protecting our taxpayers and ensuring that residents who depend on these benefits are not caught in the middle,” Fitzpatrick said. “A two-year delay would give Congress, New York State and counties the time necessary to work toward a sustainable solution rather than having these costs take effect abruptly and without adequate time to plan.”
The resolution states that the combined administrative and potential benefit cost shifts could create more than $1.3 billion in new annual SNAP-related costs for New York State and its counties.
The Steuben County Legislature notes that counties operate under New York State’s property tax cap, have limited revenue-raising authority and are responsible for numerous mandated services. The resolution states that significant new costs could ultimately affect local property taxes, county services and the workload of the Department of Social Services.
The resolution therefore calls upon Congress to:
- Delay the federal SNAP administrative cost shift for two years, from Federal Fiscal Year 2027 to Federal Fiscal Year 2029.
- Delay for two years the new SNAP benefit cost-sharing requirement tied to payment error rates.
- Provide Congress and New York State additional time to develop a sustainable funding solution.
