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JBC trims cash-fund spending for senior services, keeps general fund steady
Summary
The Joint Budget Committee approved staff recommendations to reduce cash-fund authority for the Department of Human Services senior-services line while maintaining the same general-fund amount; committee members discussed the Older Coloradans Cash Fund statutory transfer and fund balance.
The Joint Budget Committee voted 6-0 to adopt staff recommendations that reduce cash-fund spending authority for the Department of Human Services' senior services line while leaving the general-fund appropriation unchanged.
Tom Dermody, Joint Budget Committee staff, told the committee the recommended cash-fund appropriation for the senior-services line was reduced by about $2.7 million to $11.4 million in total cash funds, which Dermody said is “just a little bit shy of the total cash available in that cash fund” for fiscal year 2025–26. Dermody said the underlying source is the Older Coloradans Cash Fund.
The committee chair asked how money is deposited into the cash fund. Dermody replied, “It is a statutory transfer of $10,000,000 from the general fund to the Older Coloradans Cash Fund.” Dermody said that, in practice, the committee and staff have been drawing down the fund balance as expenditures increased and some prior statutory transfers were removed during 2020 budget balancing.
Committee members discussed the mechanics and optics of routing money through a cash fund that is ultimately funded by a statutory annual general-fund transfer. Dermody said the line item funds the state’s area agencies on aging and programs such as Meals on Wheels. After discussion, the committee’s vice chair moved the staff recommendation; there were no objections and the motion passed 6-0.
Committee documents show the Older Coloradans Cash Fund has built and drawn down balances over time; Dermody noted prior statutory transfers increased the balance and recent spending has reduced it. The committee did not identify a specific statute by citation in the public discussion, and committee staff referenced the transfer in general statutory terms.
The committee’s action provides the Department of Human Services the adjusted cash-fund spending authority for senior services for the committee’s figure-setting actions.
