Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Seniors topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senior-services director says budget cuts make expansion to Rico infeasible without guaranteed funding
Summary
Dolores County senior-services staff reported 2026 budget shortfalls and state funding cuts, saying the program cannot reliably expand transportation to Rico without guaranteed multi-year funding and that a driver-plus-vehicle costs about $25,000 annually.
Lisa, representing senior services, apologized for not being in person and gave an update on senior transportation planning. She said state funding reductions left the department with a tighter 2026 budget, limiting options to expand services into Rico without guaranteed funding.
"The only way that we can can do transportation in Rico is to have a funding source that is going to be guaranteed funding, year to year," Lisa said, noting that operating a driver and vehicle costs about $25,000 per year and that most foundation grants the department secures are used to backfill other budget cuts.
Lisa told the board that logistics and driver-hour availability would complicate adding service to the two communities and that training and compliance with FTA and state drug-and-alcohol rules add to ongoing operational costs. Board members asked staff to continue exploring possible partner funding and to consider scaling core services if revenues continue to decline.
No formal motion or change to senior-services funding was adopted at the meeting.
