La Crosse County’s Economic Support staff delivered an outstanding achievement last year: an error rate of just 0.67% for FoodShare payments in our region.

This number is a reflection of the quality and precision of the County employees who determine eligibility for FoodShare. It also means thousands of our neighbors are getting the right benefits at the right time.

To put this in perspective, the state average error rate for the same period was 5.7%. Our region’s performance is among the best in the nation, ensuring nearly 10,000 people in La Crosse County receive accurate benefits through Wisconsin’s SNAP program.

What does "error rate" mean?

It measures payment accuracy—whether someone gets more or less than they should or is incorrectly deemed eligible. Beginning in 2028, states with error rates above 6% risk losing federal funding. The low rate achieved by County staff also comes while they are working through new FoodShare work requirements, which have added administrative burden.

La Crosse County leads the Western Region for Economic Assistance, which includes Buffalo, Pepin, Trempealeau, Jackson, Vernon, Monroe, Clark, and La Crosse counties.

The County's Economic Support Team is not just accurate, they're also compassionate. In a recent customer survey:

--95% of respondents said they were treated fairly and with respect.

--91% reported overall satisfaction with services.