[{"_1":2,"_85":-5,"_86":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6676426,"mediaKeyId","2392797-0f10494d634cbda7f4cdc7562904ab2a","parentId",2392797,"title","State officials outline governor's WISE initiative and master plan on aging, citing $144 million Social Security tax cut and food-program funding needs","audioSeconds",1297,"startMs",3998000,"endMs",5295000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2392797-0f10494d634cbda7f4cdc7562904ab2a&start=3998&end=5295","thumbnailUrl","https://d352y6ypj4mjo3.cloudfront.net/AudioPlaceholder.png","articleUrl","/articles/6676426/Utah/State-officials-outline-governors-WISE-initiative-and-master-plan-on-aging-citing-144-million-Social-Security-tax-cut-and-food-program-funding-needs","mediaUrl","author","Davis County Senior Services Advisory Board","date","2025-01-09T09:00:00Z","article","SALT LAKE AREA — State officials briefed the Davis County Senior Services Advisory Board on a sweeping aging-focused package proposed in Governor Spencer Cox’s fiscal year 2026 budget and on a separate statewide master plan for aging.

Nels Holmgren, state director for the Utah Division of Aging and Adult Services, told the advisory board the governor’s WISE initiative — an acronym for wealth, independence, security and engagement — includes a proposal to eliminate state income-taxation of Social Security benefits and a mix of funding requests intended to shore up home- and community-based services.

Why it matters: Holmgren said the Social Security change would target tax relief to older Utahns and estimated the state revenue effect at about $144 million. He described additional funding asks to support in‑home care and protective services that, he said, would both improve care options and reduce long-term public costs by keeping people safely at home.

Holmgren said the governor proposes eliminating the tax on Social Security income, which the presentation characterized as one of the last states to tax that benefit and estimated would amount to roughly $1,000 per senior on average. “Tax cuts are always a popular item on the hill. But we could focus on one group that it will make a huge impact for,” Holmgren said, summarizing the governor’s rationale. He added that the state has a relatively large and growing senior population.

Holmgren described three other components of the initiative:
- Independence: about $20.5 million recommended to increase provider rates, with an emphasis on the Medicaid “aging waiver” and the “New Choices” waiver that pay for in‑home services for people who otherwise might enter nursing homes. Holmgren said low rates have left the New Choices program effectively “frozen” in parts of the state because providers cannot afford to participate.
- Security: funding to add adult protective services investigators and Office of Public Guardian staff to address a rising caseload and more complex investigations; Holmgren said the division currently has about 40 investigators statewide and that rural travel adds strain on staffing.
- Engagement: roughly $4.5 million requested to preserve current levels of senior nutrition services (Meals on Wheels and congregate meals); Holmgren said roughly $4.2 million of that would be one‑time funding needed to avoid cutting existing meal service when expiring federal and one‑time state funds lapse next fiscal year.

Holmgren emphasized the budget package is the governor’s proposal and that the Legislature will make final funding decisions. He encouraged area agencies and local partners to use the one‑page briefs the division is preparing for lawmakers and to attend advocacy events at the Capitol.

Master plan on aging: Rob Entz, presenting a separate update on the statewide master plan on aging, said the Utah Commission on Aging’s plan — prepared after a 2022 legislative directive — lays out a 10‑year horizon for state priorities grouped into six pillars (community ecosystems, everyday wellness, planning for life, networks of care, technology and others). Entz described the plan as a framework for aligning state, local and nonprofit efforts rather than a directive to area agencies.

Entz said the commission will publish a public dashboard tied to measurable outcomes and that the governor’s office will host an aging symposium to discuss elements of the WISE initiative and the master plan. “This is a state we’d like everybody to feel like they have access to these things,” Entz said of the plan’s aspiration to improve access to housing, transportation, health and social supports.

What was not decided: Board members received the briefings for information; no formal county action or votes on the state proposals occurred during the meeting.

Context and next steps: Holmgren said the governor’s budget will enter an abbreviated appropriations review this session and that two technical bills the division plans to request would clarify prosecutorial definitions for adult protective services and ease information‑sharing procedures between the Office of Public Guardian and the Division of Services for People with Disabilities. He said listening sessions for the master plan will begin in March and the plan will be refined iteratively.

— End —","mediaType","Audio","parentTitle","Davis County Senior Services Advisory Board Meeting - SSAB 01.09.2025","oneSentenceSummary","SALT LAKE AREA — State officials briefed the Davis County Senior Services Advisory Board on a sweeping aging-focused package proposed in Governor Spencer Cox’s fiscal year 2026 budget and on a separate statewide master plan for aging.","taxTitle","Davis County Senior Services Advisory Board, Davis County Boards and Commissions, Davis County, Utah","taxId",74937,"location","Utah","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":50,"_51":82,"_53":-5,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":83,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":84,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6676423,"Davis County Senior Services reports new software, dietitian hire and SNAP outreach; board accepts minutes and adjourns",160,5685000,5845000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2392797-0f10494d634cbda7f4cdc7562904ab2a&start=5685&end=5845","/articles/6676423/Utah/Davis-County-Senior-Services-reports-new-software-dietitian-hire-and-SNAP-outreach-board-accepts-minutes-and-adjourns","FARMINGTON, Davis County — The Davis County Senior Services Advisory Board on Tuesday received operational updates from staff about new technology, a nutrition hire and grant awards, and completed routine business with two procedural votes.

Why it matters: County staff said the changes are intended to improve coordination of home‑and community‑based services and strengthen enrollment and nutrition support for older residents who rely on Meals on Wheels, congregate meals and other county programs.

What staff said: Rochelle (county staff) told board members the county has launched AgeWise, a new integrated client-management system that combines three legacy platforms into one and will give staff dashboards and reporting through Power BI. “It is top of the line,” Rochelle said, highlighting features intended to help staff track client contacts, billing and birthday outreach.

Rochelle also announced the county has hired its first registered dietitian dedicated to aging‑services clients (Candice), who will offer one‑on‑one nutrition assessments and counseling. Staff said that hire supports a recently awarded $50,000 grant from the National Council on Aging (with Walmart Foundation support) to increase older adult enrollment in SNAP food benefits. “SNAP is the best first choice for food assistance,” Rochelle said.

Staff highlights and services: County staff reported 318 individuals helped during Medicare open-enrollment by 13 trained counselors and said the local ombudsman program resolved 92% of complaints with resident satisfaction. Staff also reiterated ongoing outreach efforts and reminded board members that the county is focused on maintaining current nutrition service levels if proposed state one‑time funding does not continue.

Board actions: The advisory board approved the previous meeting’s minutes by motion and voice vote. The motion to accept the minutes was moved and seconded; members responded “Aye” during the roll call and the chair declared the motion unanimous. Later the board moved to adjourn by motion and second; the meeting was adjourned without recorded opposition.

What was not decided: The board did not take action on appointments during the meeting; staff asked members to forward recommendations by email to fill a recent resignation and to prioritize seniors as candidates.

Context: County staff said the governor’s WISE initiative and the state master plan on aging will affect county planning and funding conversations in the legislative session, and they encouraged members to review forthcoming one‑page briefs and to join advocacy events.

— End —","The Davis County Senior Services Advisory Board heard local updates including a new integrated client system (AgeWise), hiring of a registered dietitian, and a $50,000 SNAP outreach grant; the board approved meeting minutes and later adjourned by motion.","actionData","errors"]

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State officials outline governor's WISE initiative and master plan on aging, citing $144 million Social Security tax cut and food-program funding needs

Davis County Senior Services reports new software, dietitian hire and SNAP outreach; board accepts minutes and adjourns