Idaho Commission on Aging seeks remaining ARPA drawdowns, modest base increases to sustain meal and caregiver services

The Idaho Commission on Aging asked the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on Feb. 24 to approve a modest ongoing general fund increase and to allow final one-time federal drawdowns to sustain meal, caregiver and adult protective services delivered by local Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs).

Legislative Services budget analyst Colin McGurkin told the committee that the commission implements the federal Older Americans Act and the Idaho Senior Services Act and that the agency has repeatedly used one-time federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) awards for modernization and service enhancements. "The Commission on Aging implements the Federal Older Americans Act and Idaho Senior Services Act," McGurkin said.

Why it matters: local AAAs use most state and federal funding to deliver meal programs, transportation, caregiver support and adult protective services that keep older Idahoans in their homes. The commission said much of recent federal ARPA funding went to expanding meal programs, caregiver education and pilot projects aimed at supporting unpaid family caregivers and expanding the public health workforce to assist high‑risk caregivers.

The commission reported FY2024 total expenditures of about $16.7 million, with roughly 88% of that in trustee and benefit payments that go to AAAs. Since FY2022 the commission has drawn roughly $7.4 million in ARPA-related expenditures and in FY2024 received a $5.2 million one-time federal appropriation tied to those…