So, how did Kentucky find its way into a shortfall on funding home-delivered meals for senior citizens?
One local state representative has his eyes on the Governor’s office and the Cabinet for Health and Family Services.
Representing part of Christian County, District 9 Republican Myron Dossett delivered his timeline of events leading into this week — which eventually culminated into a phone call this past Wednesday with Pennyrile Area Development District Executive Director Jason Vincent.
There, Dossett said Vincent reflected upon the CHFS memorandum sent September 8, and the cuts therein coming after October 15.
Dossett said that two years ago, when the Kentucky General Assembly crafted its budget, numbers that came from the Office of Andy Beshear and CHFS “felt short” to leadership from Area Development Districts.
Dossett further noted that it “bothers him” that there were discrepancies in numbers coming from the Governor’s office, that the General Assembly was never contacted, and that “the funds are actually there within the Cabinet,” and that they can “move the money around to make up the shortfall.”
He also said he didn’t know what the Cabinet would do between October 15 and when the General Assembly next meets January 1, but in his opinion, Beshear is “too busy running for President, rather than managing the state of Kentucky.”
Dossett also took another moment to air another somewhat related grievance — tied to average daily attendance in public schools, and the SEEK funding earned annually.
Kentucky, Dossett added, “should not be in this position,” and that not only are the funds there at the state level, but also at the federal level.
Meanwhile, serving Caldwell, part of Christian and part of Trigg, District 8 Representative and Republican Walker Thomas said the Governor and CHFS have a budget of nearly $24 billion, and that Beshear “has the authority to move funds from other programs.”
Thomas said this has “nothing to do with the Big Beautiful Bill,” which doesn’t even kick in until 2026, and that CHFS has “enough funds to fix this” until the General Assembly gets back into session.
House leadership, Thomas added, is currently meeting with CFHS, noting that shortfalls could be reimbursed after the state’s budget reopens in three months.
What can people do in the meantime? Thomas said the House and the Senate are “well aware of the problem,” and that it’s possible some counties could cover the costs of lost home-delivered senior meals until the General Assembly returns and approves reimbursements.
Thomas further noted that senior citizens “don’t need to be a political football,” and he feels like that’s what is happening in this moment.
