- December 14, 2025
The Volusia County Council on Aging withdrew its proposal, which officials say could have saved the county $430,000 annually.
County staff held its last public forum Dec. 7, about the possibility of turning Flagler’s eldercare services over to the nonprofit Volusia County Council on Aging. Facing opposition, however, COA officials withdrew the proposal Dec. 12.
About 50 residents attended the final meeting and were wary of how the projected savings of $430,000 per year would impact their care.
They wanted to understand how taking over another area’s eldercare operations would save the Volusia nonprofit its projected 2% to 3% in overhead per year. The answer: from travel expenses and administrative costs, Doug Beach, council president said.
But the residents wanted numbers, line by line. They wanted guarantees that Flagler businesses would not be passed up for Volusia vendors should a shift occur, and that the transition for clients would be “seamless” and “invisible,” as the organization states.
“We think of (local) vendors as the only way we can make Flagler work for us,” Beach said. “Our expectation is that Flagler County … will drive the bus.”
That was how County Administrator Craig Coffey envisioned it, as well. “We hold all the keys,” he said, citing the proposal’s three-year commitment.
But now the option is off the table. In his withdrawal letter to the county, Beach wrote, “The consensus from the community meetings was that ‘the current system is not broken’ and moving ahead … at this time is not necessary.”
Funds for eldercare are issued to the county by the state Department of Elder Affairs based on formula, according to Linda Levin, ElderSource director. In the 2011-2012 budget, a total of $1.2 million was appropriated for senior care at the Adult Day Care on Belle Terre Parkway. In addition to monies from ElderSource and other agencies, the county then contributes an excess of $549,000 to keep the facility running.
By turning to a nonprofit, though, that amount could have been all but eliminated, according to Council on Aging and county officials. And that would have been without changing any services, locations or employees.
All that would have changed would have been the administrators signing the paychecks.
Currently, the county’s Adult Day Care has a maximum capacity of 20 seniors and serves about 58 different residents per year. It has a waiting list of 28.
“If the county currently has a service (that is) getting funded and it’s functioning, why is it necessary to go out and create another agency out of town?” Former Palm Coast Councilwoman Mary DiStefano asked, Dec. 7. She proposed that a local organization step up to form a Flagler-based council on aging, similar to that of St. Johns County’s.
County Commissioner George Hanns seconded that desire.
“There are so many people who are happy with what we have now,” he said. “When you’re a senior, any change is dramatic. You get set in your ways.”
Businesspeople had their say, as well.
“There’s obviously a lot of emotion in the room, and rightfully so,” Flagler County Chamber of Commerce & Affiliates Chairwoman Lea Stokes said. “There’s a big concern about how this is going to affect our business community.”
Ultimately, that concern was what swayed discussions. Hanns and others were admittedly “self-protective.” Some were suspicious. Most simply wanted more information.
“The county administration must provide the public with an itemized program and budget,” said Steven Jones, former senior services director, also requesting a report of all revenue and expenses.
He then asked for the number of residents receiving service daily, weekly and monthly; grant data from every contributing organization; and a breakdown of all involved staff, with income and expenses. He wanted to meet all involved boards of directors, as well.
“Who is the Volusia Council on Aging?” he asked.
Men of their words, apparently.
As Beach stated several times throughout the seven meetings he conducted, if Flagler doesn’t want the Council on Aging, the council won’t submit a bid here. The council has withdrawn its proposal.
