Low-income Nevada County families are among millions of California residents bracing more possibly significant cuts to food stamp benefits. Under President Trump’s federal budget proposal, benefits would be cut up to 25% in the next decade. County Social Services Director Mike Dent is also one of the local representatives with the County Welfare Directors Association that opposes the reductions. He says states would have to assume the financial burden to offset any cuts…

click to listen to Mike Dent

As of March, Nevada County had around 7,250 recipients out of over 20,000 eligible, one of the lower participation rates in the state. That’s a drop from around 8,500 in December…

click to listen to Mike Dent

Republicans have been calling the food stamp program a recession-era safety net and that maintaining it in a more stable economy only encourages people who depend on it to stay in poverty. In 2015, 11% of nationwide spending on the program was in California. The federal program already requires able-bodied recipients without dependents to work. But many states, including California, have remained exempt during times of consistent unemployment.