San Diego County Board of Supervisors Acting Chair Terra Lawson-Remer is proposing a new program to notify recipients of federal assistance about potential funding cuts. The initiative, called "Notification of Funding at Risk," aims to inform over one million San Diego County residents who rely on federal programs such as Medi-Cal, SNAP, and CalWorks if their benefits are in jeopardy.

At a press conference on Monday, Lawson-Remer emphasized the importance of transparency and preparation for possible program reductions. 

"If we're at the very least able to contact program recipients to let them know that the programs they are relying on to eat, to see a doctor, to keep a roof over their head are in imminent jeopardy," she said.

While no cuts are currently planned, the supervisor wants to ensure that beneficiaries have advance notice to plan accordingly if changes occur. 

"People have a right to information. I think government transparency is very important, so we want to be as transparent as possible with individuals in our region who might be impacted," Lawson-Remer said.

The proposal comes amid concerns about potential federal funding cuts to assistance programs. According to Lawson-Remer, approximately 400,000 San Diegans receive food assistance benefits. Any reduction in these programs could significantly impact local hunger services and food banks.

Bob Kemensky, CEO of Feeding San Diego, supports the notification initiative. 

"I think it would be prudent on the side of our elected officials and our community to be able to provide advance notice if the cuts are in fact happening," he said.

Kemensky further explained that federal funding serves as the primary safety net for those in need, with non-profits like Feeding San Diego acting as a secondary support system. If federal benefits are cut, these organizations would face increased demand. 

"There's going to be more people falling through that first net that we're gonna try to catch...and that's going to put a greater demand and pressure on our abilities to serve a larger number of people," Kemensky said.

The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to vote on the proposed notification system at their meeting on Tuesday. If approved, the program would establish a mechanism to alert federal aid recipients in San Diego County about potential changes to their benefits, allowing them to better prepare for possible reductions in assistance.