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Commissioners approve Silverthorn transportation agreement and DHHS pilot amendment; ask for clearer budget breakdowns
Summary
Rockingham County approved an updated transportation agreement with Silverthorn to support an adult day pilot and signed an amendment to a state pilot contract intended to delay institutional care. Commissioners asked staff for clearer detail on fringe and insurance costs and for planning to bridge grant end-dates and the county fiscal year.
The Rockingham County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 27 approved an updated transportation agreement with Silverthorn and an amendment to a Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) county pilot contract intended to delay or defer institutional care, effective April 1, 2025.
County staff and commissioners discussed the transportation agreement in the context of a pilot program designed to expand adult day access. Staff said Silverthorn has buses but lacks budgeted funding for drivers; the county’s contribution helps fund drivers so the service can operate and reach more participants. Commissioners expressed concern that the contract language lists “fringe” without defining what is included and that insurance obligations are phrased in a way that suggested Silverthorn would provide insurance but that the county might be paying those costs. Staff responded that the program has been operating within the current grant budget and that Silverthorn has been a key partner in reaching about 15 participants to date.
Commissioners also discussed timing: the grant that supports the pilot was extended through December (staff said) and some contract or budget commitments run on a calendar different from the county fiscal year, meaning driver funding could expire before county budget cycles align. Staff proposed tracking data on how many people were served and suggested the state may expect metrics to justify continued or repeated funding; staff noted it is difficult to measure counterfactuals (for example, how many participants would otherwise enter institutional care).
The board approved the transportation agreement and the DHHS pilot amendment and directed staff to provide clearer cost breakdowns (fringe, insurance, salary) and to plan for funding transitions if grant support ends.
Ending: Staff said they will work with Silverthorn to clarify the budget line items and will capture program metrics for reporting to the state and for future budget consideration.
