(The Center Square) – Ohio’s most populated counties may see SNAP shortfalls topping $7 million under new federal funding, even with additional investments the state laid out in an appropriations bill moving through Ohio’s Senate.
Democratic legislators are saying the state’s new formula, which is intended to offset federal cuts with a $10 million infusion from taxpayer funds and $2.5 million federal draw down, will disproportionately impact their districts.
The bill offers up about $226,000 per county to supplement estimated federal reductions.
In Shelby County with a population less than 50,000 people, the state will fully cover the $29,647 it is projected to lose. Meanwhile, Cuyahoga’s more than 1 million residents will lose the lion’s share of their $7.5 million.
The new formula does not consider a county’s caseload in its determination.
Critics say this advantages small rural counties while harming the dense urban counties where the majority of the state’s SNAP recipients reside.
“Over 70% of Ohio’s SNAP caseload is in our 10 largest counties, yet those communities are receiving less than 18% of this state funding. What we’re seeing is the creation of a two-tiered system where some communities are made whole and others are left behind,” said Rep Chris Glassburn, D-North Olmsted. “When access to basic food assistance starts to depend on where you live or what party represents you in the state legislature, that should concern everyone.”
Glassburn highlighted the fact that with less funding, there will be less capacity for staff and a higher potential for errors.
That could, in the long run, cost counties even more under new federal regulations. Federal House Resolution 1 of 2025, touted as the Big Beautiful Bill, sets the bar at an less than 6% error rate to maintain funding.
The state’s current error rate is 9%, below the national average of 10.93%. Compliance with federal regulations comes down to County Job and Family Services, which determines eligibility for the program and share the administrative cost with the state.
“If counties are forced to cut staff, error rates will rise, and Ohio could lose up to $350 million in federal SNAP benefits this fall,” said Glassburn. “At that point, the state will either have to backfill those costs with state dollars or cut food assistance for families – that’s a much bigger hole than what we’re refusing to fill today.”
Some proponents of the bill see the funding as an important assist in the wake of federal cuts. The County Commissioners Association of Ohio, or CCAO, voiced its support for the additional funding, calling it “critical” to keep county error rates below the federal threshold.
“House Bill 730 is an important investment in Ohio’s ability to administer SNAP effectively and work towards our shared goal of a low error rate,” wrote Denise Driehaus, Hamilton County commissioner and CCAO president.
Other county leadership voiced appreciation for the state investment but worried about its method.
“While we appreciate the consideration made to include funding to offset these additional costs, this plan for funding allocation significantly underfunds the counties who will be impacted most by the federal funding losses,” said David Merriman, director of Health and Human Services for Cuyahoga County. “We also believe any funds should be distributed according to the current formula, which takes into account the number of individuals in poverty in the county and program caseloads.”
The Center Square contacted House Finance committee Chair Rep. Brian Stewart’s office about the issue of SNAP funding. A member of staff referred The Center Square to the numbers published in committee March 17 but was unable to provide additional comment.
The Center Square was unable to reach Senate Finance committee leadership.
SNAP funding has been demonstrated to lower health care costs and improve health outcomes, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. More than half of the Ohio’s about 1.4 million SNAP recipients are children, the elderly, and adults with disabilities.
