State officials are raiding the piggy banks of local organizations that provide a variety of services to older residents and sending the bulk of the funds to counties in the Denver metro area.

In a memo delivered to fellow board members this week, Guy Dutra-Silveira, director of the Area Agency on Aging for the Pikes Peak region, called it an “unprecedented transfer.”

Anticipating revenue shortfalls, entities like the Area Agency on Aging didn’t spend all the state money allocated to them. Now the state wants those unspent funds back. “Effectively it will insulate the ‘winners’ and deepen the impact on the ‘losers,’” Dutra-Silveira wrote.

Dutra-Silveira said the Pikes Peak region could wind up losing anywhere between $95,000 and $167,000 in allocated funds.  By contrast, counties in the  Denver area could see a windfall of $560,000.

The funds are used for a variety of purposes: helping  seniors fill out cumbersome insurance forms, providing transportation to doctors’ appointments, and obtaining  relief for caregivers who provide 24-hour care. 

The grab by the state will not impact any current contracts, Dutra-Silveira wrote. But it could mean that requests by providers for additional money  will be denied or funded at lower levels. “It may result in waiting lists for services or service cuts,” he warned.

El Paso County Commissioner Wayne Williams, a Republican, blasted Gov. Bill Ritter for the move. “The governor is penalizing seniors and penalizing agencies that try to plan for the future.” 

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Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Terrance “Mac” McWilliams was named The Home Front Cares Hero. Photo by Linda Navarro Photo by