Stearns County To Take Wait And See Approach To Government Shutdown

ST. CLOUD -- The state Department of Human Services is notifying 42,500 child care assistance recipients and providers that they might lose their benefits if the government shuts down July 1st.

In Stearns County, Human Services Administrator Dave Rooney says there are hundreds of families affected but they have to wait for the courts to rule before they can make contingency plans.

Stearns County had 521 families receiving subsidized daycare in May and 215 providers who are paid with those dollars.

Rooney says Stearns County's monthly subsidy they pass along from the state is $300-thousand which will hurt many families if those payments are stopped.