Upcoming cuts to federal food assistance programs will shift costs to feed needy Arizonans onto the state and charitable groups, like food banks.<\/p>\n
The tax cut and spending plan backed by President Donald Trump included several changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps, including upping the state\u2019s portion of administrative costs from 50% to 75%.<\/p>\n
According to budget analysts at the Arizona Legislature, that will cost Arizona a projected $33 million next year.<\/p>\n
The federal government has historically covered all SNAP benefit costs. But the new legislation will require states to cover a portion of those costs beginning in 2028 if its error rate exceeds 6%. The error rate refers to how accurately states determine who is eligible for benefits.<\/p>\n
Arizona\u2019s error rate last year was 8.8%. If that rate remains consistent in the coming years, it will cost the state $139 million in 2028 and $185 million in 2029, according to legislative budget staff.<\/p>\n
Gov. Katie Hobbs has long warned that the state doesn\u2019t have the money to make up for all federal cuts included in Trump\u2019s bill, including changes to federal Medicaid and food spending.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut we are going to rely more and more on community partners like the St. Mary\u2019s Food Bank Alliance and other folks who are meeting those basic needs, because of the federal cuts,\u201d Hobbs said during a recent visit to a St. Mary\u2019s Food Bank volunteer center in Phoenix.<\/p>\n
Terri Shoemaker with the Arizona Food Bank Network said food banks have long filled that gap, providing help to people who don\u2019t qualify for federal assistance.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd the gap is going to get bigger,\u201d she said. \u201cWe already know that there are about 700,000 people each month seeking help from food banks, and that\u2019s just going to get worse if fewer people qualify for help.\u201d<\/p>\n