Jackson County supervisors approve $5,000 to NEI 3A after presentation on elder services

The Jackson County Board of Supervisors voted to process a $5,000 allotment to NEI 3A following a presentation on Dec. 16 describing the nonprofit’s elder services in the county.

NEI 3A representatives told the supervisors they provide information and options counseling, one‑on‑one application assistance for programs including LIHEAP, SNAP and Medicaid, home‑delivered meals and transportation. Lisa, a NEI 3A representative, said the organization’s county‑specific figures for fiscal year 2024 included roughly $250,000 in in‑home delivered meal costs and 16,540 meals, and that the agency assisted about 65 individuals with application assistance, producing approximately 125 applications. “I was able to pull up and it looks like we assisted about 65 individuals with application assistance, and it looks like we did approximately 125 applications,” the representative said.

Supervisors pressed for clarity on how many Jackson County residents receive each service and whether funds are spent locally. Chair Don Swicker said the board needed “a tangible… this is what we’re getting for our dollar” before committing tax dollars in future budgets. NEI 3A explained its standard 3% request formula tied to local service investment and described outreach efforts (referrals, meal‑site coordination, and service follow‑ups) intended to ensure county residents are aware of and receive help.

Without further investigation into long‑term budget implications, several supervisors agreed to move the previously budgeted $5,000 request forward; staff will process the payment. The board emphasized it wants clearer, county‑specific metrics in future requests so the supervisors can assess direct benefits to Jackson County residents.

NEI 3A’s representatives described coordination with local food banks and Meals on Wheels partners, and identified other program costs reported for Jackson County (approximately $32,000 for caregiver programs, about $30,000 for health promotion and nutrition education, $15,000 transportation, and $11,000 for home/community‑based services). The board did not attach additional conditions to the current allocation but signaled interest in more detailed future reporting.