COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – A proposal from the Area Agency on Aging to hold back 13 percent in Fiscal Year 2025 provider allocations to both the Branch County Commission on Aging and the St. Joseph County Commission on Aging touched off a lengthy discussion during Thursday’s Community Health Agency Board of Health meeting.
Area Agency on Aging Director Laura Sutter said in a e-mail to board members that they experienced many cuts in Fiscal Year 24 with some as significant as 44 percent.
Sutter adds the agency is not planning to have ARPA funds in Fiscal Year 25 and further, it’s an election year and, “the federal budget process is projected to be the same as it was this year, agonizing.”
She was proposing the agency “hold back” funding at this stage in their budget/allocations process which is something they have not done in many years.
Branch County Commission on Aging Executive Director Amy Duff said what the AAA is proposing would not be correct.
Community Health Agency Administrative Services Director Theresa Fisher spoke on behalf of Sutter who was not at the meeting. Fisher pointed out the local AAA is a small agency.
The Board eventually voted 3-2 on a motion by Jon Houtz which was seconded by Tom Mathew to keep the provider allocations at the same level and use the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 budget numbers.
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