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Davis County aging services board approves area plan as staff warns of funding cuts and service trims
Summary
The advisory board approved the agency’s four-year area plan with modified priorities. Staff said state and federal funding reductions — including $1.75 million in one-time funds for the state and seized ARPA federal funds — have created a shortfall they expect to cover with county savings this year but which may require program trims in future.
Rochelle, director of Davis County Senior Services (presenter name used in the meeting), presented the department’s annual report and four-year area plan on April 1 and asked the advisory board to approve targeted changes to service priorities. The board unanimously approved the plan with the proposed priority changes and voted separately to concur with a staff proposal to re-order priorities to emphasize in‑home services and nutrition.
Rochelle highlighted several program developments and pilots: the county added a registered dietitian on staff, launched a SNAP-enrollment outreach grant (an 18‑month award for $50,000), implemented a senior farmers market voucher program that achieved a 90% participation rate among enrollees, and is beginning an 8- to 12-week malnutrition pilot (June–August) to measure nutrition improvements among Meals on Wheels recipients. "We are going to try to show the value ... of Meals on Wheels," Rochelle said, noting the pilot will include physical measures and follow-up assessments.
Board members discussed service demand and wait lists. Rochelle said in-home services wait times vary by program; she estimated typical waits could be "maybe 6 months" for some county services and noted the Medicaid aging waiver can have waits of about two years. "We're $200,000 shy this year to maintain all our services," she told the board, adding the department intends to draw down county savings this year to avoid immediate cuts but that longer-term options may include a county tax increase or other funding changes.
Rochelle also described broader state-level shifts affecting aging services. She said the Administration for Community Living (ACL) restructuring has eliminated many regional contacts and that a Utah Seismic Safety Commission — which previously recommended mitigation steps to the governor and legislature — was not renewed by the State Senate, a development she described as "disappointing".
Board members approved specific operational waivers requested by the department (transportation and exercise offerings among them) and voted to accept the area plan as presented with Rochelle’s priority re-ordering. The board also voted earlier in the meeting to amend the agenda so the county commissioner could present his report earlier.
Rochelle warned that changes to county staffing and seized federal ARPA/CDC funds have put additional pressure on the department budget. "Two weeks ago we were notified that all CDC or any federal funding related to ARPA ... was immediately seized even though we had until 2026 to spend it out," she said. She reported the department had notified seven county employees of separations elsewhere in the health department but said aging services had minimized layoffs by surrendering several unfilled positions.
The board and staff discussed potential next steps including targeted advocacy to county commissioners about a local tax levy for aging services, careful use of savings in the short term, and continued pursuit of grants. The advisory board voted to approve the area plan and the revised priorities unanimously.
