County increases meal reimbursement rate for Countryside Adult Home amid higher food costs

Warren County’s Health Services Committee voted to amend the county’s contract with Countryside Adult Home to raise the reimbursement per meal to $5.75 from $5.50 and to increase the not‑to‑exceed contract cap to $180,000, citing higher food and supply costs. The motion was moved by Supervisor Runyon, seconded, and approved by voice vote.

Nut graf: The change is intended to cover increased food and supply costs for meals provided to county program participants; county staff said the reimbursement structure is intended to reimburse Countryside for its costs to provide meals.

Committee discussion referenced a staff analysis comparing the county’s food purchasing prices to commercial rates; a supervisor noted the county’s costs were ‘‘50% lower’’ than a quoted comparison. Health services staff clarified that the county ‘‘basically reimburse them what it costs them to do the food for us or to do the meals for us.’’

Decision: The committee voted to bring the budget amendment to the floor and approved the increase by voice vote.

Ending: Staff indicated the increase is budgeted within existing appropriations up to the revised not‑to‑exceed amount; they did not provide a breakdown of how many additional meals the change will cover.