Nonprofits ask Randolph County commissioners for increased funding in FY 2025-26 budget hearing

Multiple outside agencies made presentations to the Randolph County Board of Commissioners on June 24 as part of the FY 2025–26 budget public hearing, asking the county to increase appropriations to maintain or expand services amid growing need and rising costs.

Mark Hensley, executive director of Randolph Senior Adults, told commissioners senior services are facing sustained demand and rising unit costs. "As of the end of 2020, the 65-and-older segment of our population has exceeded the birth-to-age-17 population," Hensley said, highlighting that 23% of Randolph County adults are 65 or older. He said meal deliveries climbed from about 72,457 meals in 2017–18 to a projected 105,000 this year, and that a new catering contract will raise per‑meal costs from $4.85 to $5.25. Hensley estimated the meal-cost increase alone would raise program costs by roughly $315,000 and added vehicle and RCATS transit costs contributed another estimated $234,000 in additional county share.

OE Enterprises, which…