Dutchess facing $1.5 million SNAP bill
Dutchess and Putnam are among the New York counties facing higher costs to process food assistance applications as changes to the federal One Big Beautiful Bill enacted last year begin to take effect.
Beginning Oct. 1, the start of the federal budget year, New York and other states’ share of administrative costs for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps) will rise from 50 percent to 75 percent.
Because New York is one of three states whose counties pay the administrative costs, the change will shift $100 million in expenses to New York City and $68 million to the rest of the state, according to the New York State Association of Counties. It estimates that Dutchess’ costs will rise by $1.5 million and Putnam’s by $273,000.
Because the One Big Beautiful Bill passed in July 2025, six months before Dutchess passed its 2026 budget, the county folded the extra costs for this October, November and December into its spending plan. But for 2027, “there will be difficult decisions ahead,” said Colleen Pillus, a county spokesperson.
Kevin Byrne, Putnam’s executive, said that “whatever changes come from Washington with regards to SNAP, our administration stands ready to adapt, meet our responsibilities and ensure there is no disruption in delivering these critical services.”
Another change scheduled for Oct. 1, 2027, will increase pressure on counties to improve the accuracy of their SNAP approvals. After that date, the federal government will penalize states for payment errors exceeding 6 percent by reducing its share of the benefits distributed to recipients.
Based on New York’s error rate, which was 12.35 percent in 2025, the federal government will reduce funds sent to the state for food assistance by $1.1 billion, according to calculations by the NYSAC.
While the federal government “says an error equals fraud,” according to Stephen Acquario, NYSAC’s executive director, they are generally “reporting errors” related to people changing jobs or working more hours, and delayed paperwork. “We don’t process things fraudulently,” he said.
What SNAP Can Buy
Fruits and vegetables
Meat, poultry and fish
Dairy products
Breads and cereals
Snack foods
Non-alcoholic beverages
Seeds and plants that produce food
What SNAP Cannot Buy
Beer, wine and liquor
Cigarettes and tobacco
Food and drinks containing controlled substances such as cannabis
Vitamins, medicines and supplements
Live animals (except shellfish and fish removed from water)
Foods that are hot at point of sale
Pet food
Cleaning supplies and paper products
Hygiene products or cosmetics
Source: U.S. Food and Nutrition Administration. Twelve states, not including New York, no longer allow “junk food” such as soda and candy to be purchased with food stamps.
Acquario said that state legislators and Gov. Kathy Hochul could cut benefits, pay the error-rate penalty from state funds or enact legislation to force counties to contribute. “That would blow every county’s property-tax cap,” which is a mandated limit on how much counties can raise taxes each year, he said.
The increases parallel other changes. Beginning on March 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill eliminated exemptions from SNAP work requirements for “able-bodied” adults between 55 and 64 years old, homeless people, parents with dependents between 14 and 18, those 24 and younger who have aged out of the foster care system and veterans.
New York counties “are being asked to monitor more people, explain more rules, process more documentation and preserve program integrity with less federal support,” according to NYSAC.
Enrollment in SNAP for June, the most recent month available, was 2.7 million statewide, including 15,996 residents in Dutchess and 2,859 in Putnam.
On Aug. 6, Sabrina Marzouka, commissioner of the Dutchess County Department of Community and Family Services, told the Legislature that verifying recipients are complying with the work rules and increased scrutiny of benefit payments in response to the looming penalties creates pressure on a staff “that’s already overloaded.”
Dutchess announced on Aug. 7 that it is testing an AI-powered phone system to assist with SNAP applications and recertifications. Benefits are determined by income, with maximum monthly payouts ranging from $298 for an individual to $994 for a family of four and $1,789 for an eight-person household.
The new phone system, available 24 hours a day and able to handle over 30 languages, provides guidance on submitting forms and verification documents. It can also recite a federally mandated Rights and Responsibilities list that otherwise takes a staff member 10 to 12 minutes, said Marzouka.
Dutchess said the system boosted its “timeliness rate” — the number of applications processed within 30 days — from 74 percent in July 2025 to 83 percent a year later. The system is “not just a convenience; it’s survival mode,” said Marzouka.
Have you seen these stories?
Changes Coming to Public Schools
Saving Garrison’s Landing
Type: News
News: Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Dining and Cooking