Indian River County Health Department employees told Hospital District trustees last week that the local Meals on Wheels program is essential to public health and warrants full funding – even though the Health Department itself contributes zero dollars toward the meal delivery program for seniors.
As part of its effort to slow the growth of its budget and bring spending more closely in line with the legislative act that created the Hospital District more than 60 years ago, district trustees have put Meals on Wheels and some other programs it funds on a sunset path, cutting Meals on Wheels funding by 25 percent this year.
The founding legislation says district funding should go to support healthcare services delivered by licensed healthcare practitioners to benefit indigent and low-income county residents. Local organizations that have been receiving grants from the Hospital District but that don’t meet these strict criteria are still being funded this year at a reduced level. District funding is slated to be phased out gradually, giving nonprofits time to find other grants or ramp-up private fundraising…