Federal changes to food stamps could cost Oklahoma nearly $500M: DHS director
Federal proposals to alter funding for food stamps could cost the state nearly $500 million, the head of Oklahoma's Department Human Services testified Monday. (Getty Images) (This image cannot be republished unless you have a Getty subscription.)
OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma could be on the hook for paying almost $500 million if Congress moves forward with historic plans to shift food stamp costs to states.
Jeffrey Cartmell, Gov. Kevin Stitt's appointee to head the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, discussed the potential impact during his confirmation hearing Monday before the state Senate's Health and Human Services Committee.
The committee's chair Sen. Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City, asked Cartmell about the potential impact of proposed federal cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. The program provides electronic benefits to purchase certain food items for those who qualify.
Cartmell said changes to the program formerly known as food stamps could range from $170 million to $450 million a year depending on which cost-sharing plan is adopted by the Republican-led Congress.
He said the U.S. House is considering for the first time requiring states to pay matching dollars on SNAP. He said states could be required to pay up to 25% match.
About 17% of Oklahomans receive food stamps.
Last year, a 10% match would have cost his agency $170 million, he said. A 25% match would cost between $430 million to $450 million, he said.
Congress is also considering altering the administrative portion of the program, requiring the state to pay more, he said. Such a move would cost an additional $30 million to $40 million, Cartmell said.
'Absolute worst case scenario to the agency would be an additional probably $450 million to $475 million that we would no longer have funding for to provide for the program,' he said.
The figures come just days after Stitt and legislative leaders announced a budget agreement that included a 0.25% drop in the state's top income tax bracket to 4.5% from 4.75%.
The Oklahoma Policy Institute, a Tulsa-based think tank, said the cut would cost the state coffers about $338 million.
Lawmakers recently eliminated the state's 4.5% state portion on the grocery sales tax.
The panel approved Cartmell's appointment, which now moves to the full Senate. He would replace Deborah L. Shropshire, who stepped down in the fall.
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