Gardner health and aging board reviews finances, hears grant updates and repair needs

The Gardner City Health and Aging Board on Nov. 3 reviewed its monthly treasury report, including balances for the general, gift and revolving funds and updates on three state grants.

Board members were told the remaining balance in the general fund is $149,504.28, though repairs and maintenance costs—driven in part by an expected roughly $3,000 repair to a fire escape—may push the repairs line above budget. Staff said the city has historically covered such shortfalls but that the item will reduce available funds next month.

The board heard a gift fund balance of about $95,008.62 and a revolving fund cash balance of roughly $30,005.54, with available cash reduced by outstanding purchase orders and encumbrances. Staff explained the revolving account’s income generally comes from program fees, donations and prepaid trip revenues (for example, modest donations collected for exercise classes and program fees used to pay instructors).

Regarding grant funding, the board was briefed that the FY 2024 state grant had October expenditures of $9,907.35 and is nearly closed; accounting timing required the grant remain open until June 30 of the next fiscal year to accommodate transfers. The FY 2025 grant carries several purchase orders (about $35,009.25) and modest October expenditures; the FY 2026 grant remains untouched with a balance reported at $89,136.

As part of routine housekeeping, the board discussed its preference to expend older grant dollars before newer awards to avoid long-term carrying of grant balances.

The finance section of the meeting closed with a formal motion—later approved by voice vote—allowing the director to transfer $2,500 from the gift account to the revolving account to cover program needs (see separate article on that action).