Dallas Area Agency on Aging warns of tighter budget, outlines services and eligibility

Doris Solaire, senior director of the Community Council of Dallas and director of the Dallas Area Agency on Aging (AAA), told the Dallas Senior Affairs Commission that the agency will run FY26 on a smaller clean allocation and is prioritizing core services for older adults.

Solaire said the AAA received a clean allocation of $8,500,000 through the state for the coming year, down from a clean budget base of about $8 million plus roughly $2,300,000 in carryover that brought last year’s total to about $10,300,000. "Last year, we got $10,300,000 because we always carry over funding," she said. "So this year we received funding, full allocation, $8,500,000, but it came from the reserve." The agency also reported receiving foundation and private grants — including a new SNAP-related grant and smaller awards from foundations and Blue Cross and Blue Shield — that staff said help fill gaps for high-need clients.

Why it matters: the AAA distributes services that help seniors remain in the community, including congregate and home-delivered meals, care coordination, benefit counseling, transportation for…