Some of Alaska’s social service agencies say they are feeling strained finances caused by delayed state grant funding caused by the Legislature’s late budget and expenditures on a new state computer accounting system.
The Alaska Dispatch News reports that state health officials said Wednesday that the Department of Health and Social Services has only awarded about 45 percent of its grant, compared to nearly 96 percent of grants awarded at this time last year.
Department of Administration spokesman Andy Mills says the health department warned grant recipients about possible delays caused by the new accounting system in May. Those challenges were made worse when the legislature took extra time to pass a budget.
Health department officials say struggling nonprofits should contact program managers in state government for help.
