Devon County Council is being forced to raid its own budgets to deliver the Government's pledge to give all infant school pupils free dinners.
The flagship £600 million universal meals promise to five to seven-year-olds is a major Liberal Democrat initiative ahead of next year's general election, with Nick Clegg taking command of the plan.
In the South West, around 168,400 pupils will be eligible for the scheme, which will save parents about £437 a year for each child.
But despite an extra £150 million of Whitehall money to help schools prepare, education authorities are having to pay towards the expensive kitchen and dining room upgrades needed.
Devon County Council has had to find close to £240,000 to plug the hole in the budget.
The Conservatives said the plan was drawn up "on the back of a fag packet" as part of a deal to get tax breaks for married couples for the Tories in exchange.
Devon's cabinet member for schools, James McInnes, said: "It seems to me the Deputy Prime Minister introduced this scheme without consulting schools, without consulting councils and without costing it properly.
"But, as ever, we have worked closely with our schools to make the best use of the extra money that was available to expand their kitchens and provide enough equipment to supply all the extra meals.
"In some cases the deadlines will be tight but all our schools and the county council are doing our utmost to ensure we're ready for September.
"We have had to subsidise some of the kitchen works from our general maintenance budget – which is already under pressure."
Labour's Shadow Schools Minister Kevin Brennan said it was increasingly clear the policy was "a complete shambles".
He added: "David Cameron urgently needs to explain to parents why some schools will be forced to fund this commitment out of their own budgets, how this will affect standards at those schools and which children will be missing out in September."
Mr Clegg said last week: "Of course there'll be some schools who'll have some difficulties and may not meet the drop-down date in early September to have free school meals delivered exactly as they want on the first day, but it will be a huge change and the vast majority of schools have already told us in government that they're ready."
