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Office for the Aging reconciles 2024 allocations after delayed state approval; committee approves mixed decreases and increases
Summary
Tompkins County’s Office for the Aging presented six budget adjustments at the April 10 committee meeting to reconcile 2024 spending and final state allocations after New York delayed guidance on the 2024–2027 plan; the committee approved the package unanimously.
Office for the Aging (OFA) staff told the Budget, Capital and Personnel Committee on April 10 that late state approval of a required four‑year plan forced a suite of mid‑year budget corrections for 2024 grant awards. The county committee approved the OFA adjustments unanimously.
OFA staff explained that New York State did not issue instructions for the 2024–2027 four‑year plan until July 2024; Tompkins County completed and submitted its plan in November 2024 and the state did not finalize awards until February 2025. Because the county’s 2024 budget and invoicing cycle had been based on tentative allocations, finance staff had to reconcile both decreases and increases once the final awards arrived.
Lisa, speaking for OFA, said the adjustments include both decreases (for Title III‑B and the Nutrition Services Incentive Program) and increases (for unmet needs, community services for the elderly, Title III‑C meals and wellness/nutrition programs). "This isn't due to any federal cuts... this is all related to grant awards," Lisa told the committee. Rodney, OFA’s fiscal coordinator, confirmed some lines would show decreases and others increases and that the net outcome for OFA was positive after reconciliation.
Why it matters: the OFA adjustments affect contracts (for example, FoodNet for meals) and program capacity for congregate and home‑delivered meals, wellness programming, and legal assistance for older adults. Because OFA bills the county and then claims reimbursements quarterly, accurate budget lines are necessary to process claims and avoid mid‑year deficits.
Numbers and process points
- State timing: OFA said it did not receive final 2024 allocations until February 2025, delaying invoices and forcing corrections to the county budget.
- Example impacts: an OFA line item described as the unmet needs program increased by roughly $74,000 in the reconciliation; other NSIP lines decreased by amounts staff said would be corrected in the final documents.
- Reimbursements: Rodney explained the county pays costs and then claims reimbursement from the state on a quarterly basis; late state awards complicate timely reimbursement and require careful fund‑balance management.
Next steps
Finance and OFA staff will correct accounting signage (staff noted some numbers appeared positive on the draft but should be negative) and supply finalized documents to the legislature. OFA staff said they will continue quarterly invoicing and provide updated contract information for providers such as FoodNet.
