Idaho Commission on Aging asks for small ongoing increases and $500,000 one-time to draw down remaining ARPA funds

The Idaho Commission on Aging told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on Feb. 24 that it used federal American Rescue Plan Act and CARES Act funds for one-time modernization and service enhancements, and requested a $500,000 one-time federal appropriation to draw down remaining ARPA funds before they expire on Sept. 30, 2025.

The commission’s budget analyst, Colin McGurkin of the Legislative Services Office, told the committee the commission ‘‘implements the Federal Older Americans Act and Idaho Senior Services Act’’ and that the agency’s FY2024 expenditures totaled about $16.7 million, with just under 88% recorded as trustee and benefit payments to local Area Agencies on Aging.

Why this matters: Commissioners and lawmakers emphasized that nutrition and caregiver services keep older Idahoans healthy at home and that one-time federal funds were used for capital and program modernization rather than ongoing staff or permanent operations.

McGurkin said the commission has used a sequence of one-time federal ARPA awards since FY2022 for projects such as meal-service modernization, targeted caregiver education, COVID-related supports and an unpaid‑caregiver pilot for people with dementia. He said the agency spent roughly $7.4 million in ARPA awards from FY2022–FY2024 and expended about $16.7 million in FY2024 overall, with approximately $10.4 million in federal funds and $4.2 million in general fund trustee and benefit payments going to local AAAs.

Director Judy Taylor, who also serves temporarily in a second agency role, described the commission’s priorities to the committee and answered questions about how ARPA-funded positions and pilot programs will be sustained. Taylor said the agency followed guidance to use one-time money for one-time needs and enhancements and to avoid creating ongoing obligations from ARPA funds.

‘‘Caregivers are our unsung heroes,’’ Taylor said, describing two caregiver programs the commission operates: a federal Older Americans Act program serving caregivers age 60 and older and a state-funded ‘‘high-risk caregiver’’ program targeted at caregivers of people with memory issues. She said community health workers funded in recent years conduct home assessments and planning for caregivers and that the program will continue even as ARPA dollars phase out, with some reductions in respite hours expected.

Taylor and staff also explained line-item details: the commission’s base budget rose from about $13.6 million in FY2021 to $16.7 million projected going into FY2026, an increase driven largely by enhancements (about $2.8 million) and targeted caregiver support added in prior years. For FY2025 the commission received one new full‑time position and $76,700 ongoing general fund for a financial specialist, and $805,000 in general fund to augment nutrition programs and reduce meal wait lists.

On one-time requests, the commission asked for $500,000 in federal funds to pay final invoices and draw down remaining ARPA balances before the 2025 deadline; staff described intended uses as roughly $450,000 for payments to AAAs for supportive services, meals, modernization and caregiver assistance and $50,000 for staff time to process contracts and manage program implementation and operating needs such as training materials and website updates.

Committee members asked for follow-up details on several items, including the precise amount spent on Alzheimer’s- and dementia-related services (McGurkin did not have a program-specific figure and said he would follow up), how many staff hours are charged to ARPA (Taylor said personnel obligations remain covered in the base budget but agreed to provide details), and whether community caregiver services built with ARPA will require state funding when the one-time money expires (Taylor said some services will reduce but that the agency sought to avoid creating unsustainable base obligations).

Taylor also reported that recent funding increased meal rates by 25¢ per meal for both congregate and home-delivered meals and that the commission eliminated its home-delivered meal wait lists as of the committee meeting date.

The commission’s presentation and committee discussion provided program-level detail on how one-time federal monies were used and what modest ongoing general-fund increases the agency seeks to cover inflationary pressures in trustee and benefit payments and limited operating costs.