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Council Member Justin Brannan introduces Department for the Aging budget hearing
2:42:48
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112 sec
Council Member Justin Brannan, chair of the finance committee, opens the hearing on the Department for the Aging (DFTA) budget. He outlines the proposed budget, highlighting a significant increase from the preliminary plan, and expresses concerns about inadequate funding for case management and other senior services.
- DFTA's proposed FY2026 budget is $554.4 million, a 30% increase from the preliminary plan
- Brannan emphasizes the need for more funding to reduce case management backlog and support the growing, diverse aging population
- Key issues to be discussed include capital funding, case management, and food reimbursement rates
Justin Brannan
2:42:48
Okay, good afternoon and welcome to the second hearing of our day.
2:42:54
This one is focused on the Department for the Aging.
2:42:56
I'm Justin Brannan, chair of the council's finance committee.
2:42:59
I'm joined by council member Crystal Hudson who chairs the committee on aging.
2:43:03
We have been joined by council members Lewis, Brewer, Farias, Hanks, Hudson, Sanchez, Williams, Salam.
2:43:16
And a big thank you to Commissioner Cortez Vazquez and your team for being here today.
2:43:23
DFTA's proposed FY twenty six budget is $554,400,000.
2:43:30
It's less than half of 1% of the city's total proposed budget.
2:43:35
That said, it's a sizable jump, up 128,000,000 or 30% from the preliminary plan.
2:43:41
Most of that increase goes towards long overdue investments in case management, connecting homebound older adults to services like meal delivery and home care.
2:43:50
As of March, the agency had 25 vacancies compared to its head count in FY '25.
2:43:56
In the council's preliminary budget response, we asked for 6,300,000.0 to reduce case management backlog.
2:44:03
The administration's response was just a third of that and that's not enough.
2:44:07
We can't shortchange seniors, especially when the city's aging population is growing fast and getting more diverse.
2:44:14
In my own district, we're home to one of the city's original NORCs, so I see these needs every single day.
2:44:20
Our senior centers need love, our caseworkers need support, and our older adults deserve to age with dignity and the services that they've earned.
2:44:28
My questions today will mainly focus on capital funding, case management, and the rates for food reimbursement.
2:44:34
But now I wanna turn it over to council member Hudson, the chair of the committee, for her remarks.