Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Social Services Transportation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Aging and Disability Services shifts funds between regional centers; taxi‑assistance program shrinks to 154 active participants
Summary
The Aging and Disability Services Division moved funds to cover a shortfall at Desert Regional Center and approved a separate transfer to sustain a smaller taxi assistance caseload; officials said waiting lists persist and will provide waitlist numbers at the committee’s request.
The Interim Finance Committee approved transfers within the Aging and Disability Services Division to cover a shortfall at the Desert Regional Center and to realign funds for the Taxi Assistance Program.
Anil Manocha (ADSD) said a transfer will move general fund appropriations from the Rural Regional Center budget to the Desert Regional Center budget to fund a projected FY2025 shortfall; staff said services in rural centers were not cut and rural budgets could sustain the transfer. Gary Winder, administrative services officer for Desert Regional Center, said the shortage resulted from rate increases and that the transfer will cover anticipated STEL claims through the fiscal year, with no anticipated FY2026 shortfall.
In a separate work program, Cheyenne Pasquale explained that revenue declines at the Taxicab Authority forced the division to reduce the Taxi Assistance Program. As of June the program had approximately 500 approved clients but only about 189 were actively buying coupon books; reductions removed inactive clients and some active participants, leaving about 154 active participants. ADSD said it prioritized tier 1 (highest need) clients and staff worked to connect those removed from the program to alternative transportation resources, including community partners and food‑bank/transportation partners. The division will return with a status report at the end of FY2026 on program continuation and feasibility; lawmakers requested current waitlist numbers, and ADSD agreed to provide them.
Why it matters: the taxi program cut reduces direct transportation support for seniors and adults with disabilities; committee members emphasized the importance of alternative supports and suggested exploring revenue from transportation network companies as a funding source for future program options. The committee approved the transfers and included a requested follow‑up report.
