Some lawmakers concerned about cost of food stamp distribution changeover

Rep. Fred Wood, R-Burley, said he’s concerned that the ongoing cost of $220,000 a year, half of which would come from state funds, is too high for the changeover from single-day distribution of food stamps to the new 10-day staggered system. Said Wood, “$220,000 seems like a lot for an ongoing effort. Now I may be able to see that cost for the first year. … I just am concerned that that’s a little bit of a generous price tag for an ongoing effort and that we may be able to trim that.”

Russ Barron, Division of Welfare administrator, said the estimate is based on the state’s previous experience; when it switched from a 5-day distribution to the single day in August of 2009, it was able to move three staffers off the program to other work. Now, with much higher numbers of Idahoans on food stamps, it’s estimating it will take four more workers to run the new system, one more than back in ‘09.

Rep. Maxine Bell, R-Jerome, JFAC co-chair, asked Barron, “Have the food stamp numbers peaked?” Barron responded, “No, they have not peaked. They’re still growing at 6 percent a year.”