Idaho Commission on Aging outlines ARPA spending, asks for $162,600 ongoing to cover inflation

The Idaho Commission on Aging told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on Feb. 24 that it has used federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) awards for one-time modernization and service enhancements and is requesting a modest ongoing general fund increase to cover inflation.

Colin McGurkin, a budget and policy analyst with Legislative Services, told the committee that the commission ‘‘implements the Federal Older Americans Act and Idaho Senior Services Act’’ and works through six local Area Agencies on Aging to deliver meal service, transportation, caregiver assistance and adult protective services.

McGurkin said the commission’s FY2024 expenditures totaled about $16.7 million, with roughly 88% of that used for trustee and benefit payments to local AAAs (approximately $10.4 million in federal funds and $4.2 million from the general fund). He said the agency has followed a consistent pattern of requesting one-time federal appropriations tied to ARPA: "The agency since FY 2022 has consistently requested 1 time federal appropriations to utilize available American Rescue Plan Act funds or ARPA for 1 time purposes and modernization projects," and identified roughly $7.4 million in ARPA-related expenditures to date.

Judy Taylor,…