PRESS RELEASE

September 9, 2025

Contact

Jenn Rogers, Communications Manager

jrogers@co.skagit.wa.us

360-416-1300

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Skagit County Commissioners to Host Senior Services Budget Meetings

The Skagit Board of County Commissioners hosted a proclamation today to recognize September as National Senior Center Month. The Board was heartened to see the Skagit County community attending the proclamation signing to show their support of our seniors and the importance of senior center programming and meals. The County Commissioners have always been thankful and proud of the senior services we are able to offer to our community, and the Commissioners are dedicated to services continuing.

On Sunday, September 7^th, 2025, the County Commissioners released a statement regarding their ongoing commitment to senior centers and Meals on Wheels services in Skagit County. As communicated in the statement, Skagit County is facing a very difficult budget reality for 2026. The demand for senior services and the cost for staffing and food in our area has continued to outpace the available funding we receive from Northwest Regional Council (NWRC) and fundraising opportunities throughout the year.  Additionally, the Mount Vernon Senior Center facility is in dire need of repair or replacement; however, the repair and/or replacement cost estimates have been prohibitive. The County has been searching for an alternative space to host the Mount Vernon facility for the last few years. The Mount Vernon Senior Center is the only facility owned by the County. The other three senior center facilities are owned by the local city jurisdiction.

Senior services, including the operation of senior centers and associated programming, are funded separately from the senior nutrition program, which includes hot congregate meals and hot and frozen Meals on Wheels deliveries. Northwest Regional Council receives federal funding through the Older Americans Act that is awarded to Skagit County through a contract to provide senior nutrition services. The allocation from the Older Americans Act has stayed relatively stagnant for the last 40 years, which has led to an increased reliance on local funding to support the program. The rest of the senior nutrition program is funded primarily with County general fund dollars with support from fundraising events throughout the year, meal donations from clients, and contributions from the cities. Skagit County does not receive any federal or state funding for the operation of senior centers and associated programming. Senior centers are funded with County general fund dollars and support from the cities either monetarily or through the use of city-owned facilities for senior centers.

Senior services and the Meals on Wheels program are estimated to cost the County over $1.7M in 2026 alone. This represents a more than 100% increase in program cost over the last ten years. In the development of our draft 2026 budget, we have requested our Public Health staff to evaluate how these important services can be best maintained to our seniors, while also ensuring we can adopt a balanced budget for 2026. The Skagit County Commissioners requested Public Health to present the budget impact for increasing frozen meal deliveries and reducing hot congregate meals and hot meal deliveries, and to reach out to Northwest Regional Council to discuss the impact and process for potentially transitioning the senior nutrition program contract to a nonprofit provider. Nonprofits have much more flexibility with funding and staffing than local governments, which benefits the sustainability of the program. A partnership with a local nonprofit could help share the costs and ensure services are maintained in the community. Skagit County is one of just four counties in Washington state providing senior nutrition program services. All other counties have nonprofit organizations providing congregate and home delivered Meals on Wheels.  

The County Commissioners will further review the information requested from Public Health during the upcoming budget meetings to consider submittals for the 2026 budget. Below is a schedule for budget meetings that are open to the public either in-person in the Commissioner’s Hearing Room at 1800 Continental Place, Mount Vernon, or via Zoom at the link on the Commissioner’s website.

While these meetings are open to the public, no public comment will be taken during work sessions. These meetings are for the Commissioners to meet with staff to discuss budget requests and any other information requested by the Board to help make decisions as to items for inclusion in the 2026 budget. The public is more than welcome to provide testimony regarding budget items and county programs at the public hearing listed below, or during any of the regular public comment periods with the Commissioners. General public comment periods are scheduled most weeks and can be found on the Commissioner's weekly agenda. The next public comment period is scheduled for Tuesday, September 16th, at 11:30 a.m. Written comments can be submitted at any time to the Commissioner’s Office at commissioners@co.skagit.wa.us or via mail to 1800 Continental Place, Mount Vernon, WA 98273, Attn: 2026 Budget.

Interested citizens can read more about the Skagit County Meals on Wheels program on our website. For more information, please reach out to the County Commissioners office at commissioners@co.skagit.wa.us or by calling 360-416-1300.

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