HHS Board Meeting

The Buncombe County Government held an HHS Board Meeting on May 23, 2026, focusing on various community program updates and budget discussions. Key procurement-related topics included the approval of the annual energy programs outreach plan, which involves managing funds from the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and the Crisis Intervention Program (SIP). The board discussed challenges with state systems like NC Fast affecting program outreach and application processing. The budget review highlighted revenue reductions, increased county costs due to decreased SNAP funding, and rising contractor service costs. Expansion requests included contracting retired employees to support the energy program and vehicle pool requests to improve staff transportation. The board also reviewed opioid settlement fund allocations and discussed plans for sustaining programs under these funds. No formal votes on contracts or RFPs were reported beyond the energy plan approval. Policy concerns were raised about recent Medicaid eligibility changes affecting non-citizens and co-pay increases, which may impact community health services. The meeting concluded with updates on board member recruitment and leadership positions.