Event Recap
HCCBG Advisory Committee Meeting Recap: April 23, 2025
The Buncombe County Home and Community Care Block Grant (HCCBG) Advisory Committee met on April 23, 2025, to finalize funding allocations for the current fiscal year and begin preliminary planning for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26). The meeting focused on reviewing service usage data, addressing challenges faced by grant providers, and making decisions on remaining funds. The committee approved the revised agenda and the minutes from the previous meeting without changes.
The primary financial decision of the meeting was the reallocation of $23,000 from the Buncombe County Supplemental Aging Funds (BCSAF). The committee voted to direct $5,000 to the Day Stay program and $18,000 to the On Track program. This decision follows a review of provider spending data, which showed that On Track had already utilized 100% of its allocation ($21,278.00) and provided eligible services over its allocation by $13,616.08, while Day Stay had spent 94% of its allocation ($35,389.00), leaving a balance of $2,210.30.
In addition to the supplemental aging funds, the committee addressed a request from Mountain Care for an increase in their per-trip transportation rate. The committee approved this rate increase, contingent upon Mountain Care utilizing funds from other programs within their organization to cover the additional cost. This decision was made in the context of broader discussions regarding the financial sustainability of transportation services, with Mountain Mobility and Mountain Care reporting significant unit volumes for medical and general transportation in March 2025.
A significant portion of the discussion centered on challenges faced by providers, particularly those affected by recent storm damage to congregate meal sites and bureaucratic hurdles. Committee members noted difficulties experienced by United Community Development, a new provider, in navigating the ARM system, a database used for grant management. Several members emphasized the need for increased support for new grantees and raised concerns about providers relying on a single funding source, highlighting the importance of diversification. The committee also discussed the difficulty of the current year’s funding process, citing unexpected challenges.
Regarding advocacy, committee members discussed the importance of supporting aging services and identified phone calls to elected officials as a more effective method than email. While no direct public comments were made during the meeting, members shared observations regarding the operational and administrative strains currently impacting local providers.
The meeting concluded with the assignment of specific follow-up actions. Staff member Zack Schmitt will finalize the FY26 allocation spreadsheet and send it to Allison for processing. Staff member Billy Breeden will continue working with United Community Development to resolve their issues with the ARM system. The committee will work with the county to amend contracts to reflect the approved funding reallocations. Additionally, the committee will participate in advocacy efforts through phone calls to elected officials and is scheduled to attend a public meeting regarding county supplemental funds in May.