To the Editor:

Last week at the Jackson County commission meeting, we heard some truly disturbing news about the ways the “Big Beautiful Bill” will affect Jackson County. Cris Weatherford, the Director of Department of Social Services, gave a breakdown of federal money our county is about to lose.

This is money we use to support our most vulnerable citizens. The county will have to make up the lost money, or people will go without.

When the bill takes effect, the 3,000 people in Jackson County who recently benefited from Medicaid expansion will probably lose their insurance. This affects the people themselves, as well as medical offices, therapists and hospitals. At the same time, the county will be required to pay most of the costs for administering the program for those still covered. Until now, the federal government paid the majority of those fees.

The energy assistance programs that people rely on to stay warm in the winter look likely to receive zero funding from the government, meaning Jackson County will have to come up with a few hundred thousand dollars, or people will freeze.

SNAP (food stamps) benefits help 4,200 people in our county. The program brings $8 million a year into our county and accounts for 20-40% of the money spent in grocery stores here. The federal government is about to make it more difficult to qualify for the program, increase the administrative costs Jackson County must pay and increase the percentage of food the county itself must pay for. The food increase itself will cost us $2 million a year.

 I work with many of the people served by these programs. They are mostly working people, struggling to get by on low wages while paying exorbitant rents. This bill is going to be devastating for them, and in turn, it will harm everyone in the county as grocery stores and medical providers must get by on less income. Taxes will surely be increased to help cover some of the program losses.

While all of this is headed our way, the commissioners seem determined to continue their withdrawal from the Fontana Regional Library System. This move is estimated to cost the county more than $500,000. At a time when we are facing decreased sales tax revenue, increased property taxes and more citizens are facing severe poverty, this is pure foolishness.

Tell the commissioners that they need to stop their crusade against the library and start making an emergency financial plan for their constituents who will be relying on them for leadership.

Kim Mason
Cullowhee