Cheryl Golden, Director of the Division of Social Services, detailed the transition to the new EBT cards, emphasizing the enhanced security features designed to protect users from fraud. Skimming, which occurs when criminals attach devices to point-of-sale machines to capture card information and PIN numbers, has been a issue affecting SNAP recipients. The new cards will reduce this vulnerability. However, Golden cautioned that the transition might initially cause delays in card issuance, as all new cards will be centrally printed and mailed by the state instead of being distributed locally. To ease this transition, information will be disseminated to affected households, and assistance will be provided to those needing help understanding the changes.

Additionally, the meeting included the approval of several resolutions, such as awarding a contract for mental health services and another for voting machine programming and support. A discussion arose regarding the costs associated with voting machine reprogramming, with an emphasis on ensuring that future expenses do not escalate unexpectedly. The board also authorized the purchase of software for local police departments and approved changes to food services management for the county’s Department of Corrections, among other administrative actions.