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ACE of Southwest Minnesota warns funding cuts could threaten services in Murray County
Summary
ACE of Southwest Minnesota told the Murray County Board on May 20 that rising costs and potential loss of federal and state grants put local programs and volunteer-supported services at risk, citing a $10.9–$12.0 million estimated value of donated volunteer time in 2024.
ACE of Southwest Minnesota told the Murray County Board of Commissioners on May 20 that rising program costs and possible cuts to federal and state funding jeopardize services that rely heavily on volunteers.
Program Manager Joyce Wiekeraad provided the board with a summary of local participation and programs, and Executive Director Michelle Baumhoefner said ACE experienced a deficit in 2024 driven by higher staff wages, increased health insurance premiums, and a notable rise in volunteer mileage for respite care. Baumhoefner told the board the organization is at risk of losing its AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP grant; if that federal grant is lost, the transcript notes a related state match would also disappear. She also said programs supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL) face uncertainty.
The presenters outlined participation and volunteer statistics for Murray County: volunteer hours rose from 23,316 in 2020 to 39,574 in 2024, and volunteer counts increased to 427 in 2024. Using the Independent Sector valuations cited by ACE, the organization estimated donated services in 2024 at about $10,897,132 using the national rate ($34.79/hour) and $11,952,704 using the Minnesota rate ($38.16/hour). The board packet lists the top volunteer events and program offerings in the county, including AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP, telephone reassurance, friendly visiting, caregiver respite, SAIL fitness classes, A Matter of Balance, Commodity Supplemental Food Program, and dementia-awareness activities.
Baumhoefner framed those dollar estimates as an attempt to quantify volunteer impact while acknowledging the limits of valuation methods; she also highlighted that rising operational costs have created a structural funding shortfall for ACE in 2024. The board received the update as informational; no county action or commitment of local funds was recorded in the transcript.
The ACE presentation is on the record with Program Manager Joyce Wiekeraad and Executive Director Michelle Baumhoefner; the board did not take a separate vote on ACE funding at the May 20 meeting. The board proceeded to other agenda items after the update.
