The Agency of Human Services, with audited expenditures of $2.4 billion in fiscal year 2016, is the single largest source of state government expenditures representing 43% of the total.

It is also the largest recipient of federal grants, which totaled almost $1.5 billion. Taking into account federal grants and service revenues, the net cost to Vermont taxpayers was $889.9 million, or 30% of total state tax revenues.

The Agency for Human Services administers all of Vermont’s health care, chiefly Medicaid, all mental health services and most welfare programs through the Children and Family Services Department. It also manages the Vermont corrections system and the Vermont Veterans’ Home.

As noted above, total audited expenditures were $2.41 billion in fiscal year 2016. The budgeted expenditures for fiscal year 2016 totaled $2.36 billion, as follows:

 

Agency of Human Services Budget: Fiscal-Year 2016

 

Department	Amount ($ millions)
Central Office	31.1
Vermont Health Access	1,136.5
Health	146.9
Mental Health	217.2
Green Mountain Care Board	9.1
Children & Family Services	388.8
Disability, Aging & Independent Living	256.6
Corrections	155.3
Vermont Veterans’ Home	21.0
Governor’s Commission on Women	0.4
Retired Senior Volunteer Program	0.2
Total	2,363.1

Source: Governor’s 2017 Executive Budget Recommendation

 

The actual audited expenditures in fiscal year 2016 were 2.2% higher than the budgeted amounts.

In the following sections, The Informed Vermonter will review the operations of the Agency of Human Services in detail, with a principal focus on health care and welfare.