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Seniors, food banks and mental-health providers urge supervisors to restore contracts as cuts take effect July 1
Summary
Dozens of community speakers appealed to the Board of Supervisors to backfill proposed cuts that would reduce Area Agency on Aging services by $2 million, asked for $4 million to support county food-bank and prepared-meal programs, and warned that prevention mental-health programs face funding gaps under upcoming state changes.
Dozens of Alameda County residents and nonprofit leaders used the public comment period at Monday’s budget hearing to press the Board of Supervisors to restore funding for senior services, food distribution and culturally specific mental-health prevention programs.
Speakers from senior centers, Meals on Wheels affiliates and service coalitions repeatedly asked the board to backfill a $2,000,000 reduction to programs contracted through the county’s Area Agency on Aging. ‘‘We strongly urge that you consider restoring the proposed cuts of $2,000,000 to the AAA services that allow our community center and other community centers to support our seniors to age in place and thrive,’’ said a representative for Saint Mary’s Center (public commenter, SEG 1455–1466).
Food-security advocates asked the board to add $4,000,000 to the Alameda County Community Food Bank contract — $2,000,000 for emergency food procurement and $2,000,000 for prepared meals targeted to people who lack cooking facilities. ‘‘We are asking for an additional $4,000,000 in funding in this budget, an additional $2,000,000 to support food procurement and distribution, and $2,000,000 to support prepared meals,’’ said Allison Pratt of the Alameda County Community Food Bank (SEG 1706–1709).
Mental-health prevention providers warned that the transition in statewide funding rules — including the implementation of Prop 1 and the Behavioral Health Services Act — threatens the future of many community-based prevention and early intervention programs that serve underserved ethnic and language populations. ‘‘Transitioning our programs to early intervention Medi-Cal is not within the capacity of many organizations, which are smaller,’’ said a coalition representative (SEG 60, SEG 61).
Board members and agency staff acknowledged the requests and discussed timing and options. Social Services Agency Director Andrea Ford said the contracts are scheduled to be reduced starting July 1 but that an augmentation could be added later if the board allocates Measure W monies: ‘‘No contracts are ending June 30... they’ll be reduced anyway, but they won’t be eliminated, and we can augment at a later time,’’ she said (SEG 2818–2825).
Supervisors discussed possible short-term bridge funding to prevent service interruptions in July and August. One supervisor referenced a staff estimate for a short bridge of about $650,000 to protect food services while the board considers Measure W allocations next month. County staff said they would return with more precise figures and recommended processes during deliberations scheduled for June 24.
Multiple community speakers also criticized the process and timing of budget materials, saying they received documents late and lacked sufficient time to prepare. Several asked for greater transparency in posting budget slides and explanations online.
