Buncombe County advisory committee reports small statewide cut to HCCBG funds; shifts in local allocations and data push follow

Buncombe County’s Home and Community Care Block Grant (HCCBG) Advisory Committee on July discussed a smaller-than-expected HCCBG allocation that triggered a proportional reduction across local providers, updates that most supplemental aging contracts are complete, and plans to revise how the committee scores grant applications and gathers demographic data.

The committee was told the county’s HCCBG award arrived below the estimate the group used in its planning. The shortfall total conveyed in the meeting was $17,761, which was applied proportionally across funded programs; that reduction amounted to about 1% and reduced Mountain Mobility’s award by $5,000. Committee members said the cut was unwelcome but was applied evenly across providers.

Allison, a county staff member, told the committee that commissioners had approved the county funding plan and the allocations the committee had recommended. “Everything was approved by the commissioners,” Allison said, and staff reported most contracts for the supplemental aging funds were completed and would be sent out by the end of the month as sign-offs finish.

A year-end expenditure review showed units-of-service and allocations largely met…