Council on Aging urges restoration of $10,000 for transportation as seniors exceed 30% of Millis population

Anne Marie Gagnon, director of the Millis Council on Aging, told the Finance Committee on March 4 that the council's programming and transportation services are central to enabling older residents to remain independent and that an earlier $10,000 cut in transportation funding risks service disruption.

Gagnon described the council's small staff and extensive programming and said seniors now represent "more than 30% of the town population." She explained the transportation program serves older adults and some adults with disabilities for rides to medical appointments, shopping and social programs, and she said the budget cut had been absorbed so far but would materially reduce the transportation revolving account's available balance.

"So that's why the $10,000 dollars that was cut is is so critical to restoring that back," Gagnon said, explaining that staff already adjusted schedules to economize and that the revolving fund had been used historically to smooth costs. She told the committee the council had already spent its January allocation for rides and estimated the transportation account could be severely depleted if the cut is not restored, leaving little to cover repairs or larger vehicle expenses.

Committee members and the town administrator noted possible regional options under the MetroWest Regional Transit Authority and suggested continued discussions, but Gagnon said that programmatic needs in the near term require the $10,000 restoration to preserve service levels for seniors who rely on council transportation to maintain independent living.

The committee accepted the presentation and signaled it would consider restoring the money during the FY27 budget deliberations and pursue options for longer-term regional partnerships.