Idaho Commission on Aging seeks limited ongoing funding, plans one-time ARPA drawdowns for senior services

The Idaho Commission on Aging told the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee on Feb. 24 that it will seek a small ongoing general‑fund increase for FY2026 and several one‑time federal drawdowns to finish projects funded by American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) awards.

Colin McGurkin, budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, said the commission’s base budget implements the federal Older Americans Act and the Idaho Senior Services Act and that FY2024 expenditures totaled about $16.7 million. “The vast majority — just under 88% of expenditures — fall under trustee and benefit payments,” he said, describing payments made to Local Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) that provide meals, transportation and caregiver services around the state.

The commission requested an ongoing general‑fund increase of $162,600 for FY2026 to cover inflationary costs, including a roughly $155,000 adjustment in trustee and benefit payments to AAAs and $7,600 to cover a 2% operating cost increase within the commission itself. McGurkin and Director Judy Taylor said the commission and governor’s recommendation…