Passages, the agency serving Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Plumas and Tehama counties, projects a 30 percent funding cut when the new formula takes effect in fiscal year 2029-30. Designed by Freepik, www.freepik.com

 

CHICO, CA (MPG) - A proposed state funding formula under Senate Bill 1249 could slash resources for Area Agencies on Aging across California, threatening critical programs for older Americans in rural communities.

Passages, the agency serving Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Plumas and Tehama counties, projects a 30 percent funding cut when the new formula takes effect in fiscal year 2029-30. Similar reductions are expected for other agencies, including those serving Sutter and Yuba counties, raising alarms about the future of services for older adults.

“Removing 31 percent of the funds that feed them, provide them access to services, and work with their Medicare is going to have a devastating effect in this region,” Passages Executive Director Joe Cobery told the Butte County Board of Supervisors on Nov. 18. “And I think what is unfortunate in the state’s plan here is that all of the rural communities of California are going to be suffering as a result of this.”

Passages delivers services that help older Americans remain independent, including home-delivered meals, caregiver support, minor home modifications and emergency aid. A 30 percent cut could reduce meal delivery from five days a week to just three, leaving many without consistent access to nutrition.

Cobery stressed the disproportionate impact on rural communities.

“In Paradise, 80 percent of those who died in the (Camp Fire) were over the age of 60,” Cobery said. “Older Americans are the most vulnerable population in our region, and these cuts would hit them hardest.”

Senate Bill 1249 would revise California’s funding formula for Area Agencies on Aging. While Passages is sounding the alarm locally, the legislation affects all urban and rural counties served by these agencies, where reductions in resources for meals, caregiver support, transportation, and elder protection programs are expected. The bill also allows counties within multi-county agencies to seek independent designation, a change that could fragment funding and complicate service delivery, Cobery said.

Looking ahead, the first impact of Senate Bill 1249 will arrive in 2026, when the California Department of Aging must identify core programs, update accountability standards, and develop a statewide consumer engagement plan. These steps will not immediately reduce funding but will set the stage for formula changes. Cobery said 2026 will be a critical year for rural communities to make their voices heard, as the state finalizes regulations that will determine how resources are distributed in the years to come.

Passages, based in Chico, is funded primarily through federal dollars administered by the California Department of Aging, with support from county partnerships and community donations. The agency coordinates services across five counties, offering programs such as caregiver support, elder abuse prevention, health insurance counseling and ombudsman services for long-term care facilities. Through contracts with local nonprofits, Passages also supports congregate and home-delivered meals, transportation, legal assistance, homemaking and personal care and Alzheimer’s day care programs.

Cobery said the agency will continue to press for protection of rural services and urged local government leaders to join in the effort.

“We will be testifying at the state; we will be testifying at the federal level as well,” Cobery said.

Local officials acknowledged the serious implications and pledged to stay engaged as the state finalizes its plan. Public comment opportunities will be announced in the coming months. For older Americans in Northern California, the proposed cuts could mean fewer meals, reduced home support services and diminished access to care that helps maintain independence and quality of life, Cobery said.