The state budget director told lawmakers Friday he had redirected funds to cover a nearly $10 million funding gap that put senior meal providers across Kentucky in a panic.

In September, Gov. Andy Beshear’s administration told Kentucky’s 15 area development districts, who manage senior meal programs, that they would not be able to provide any more funding to support the programs.

The senior meals program began expanding under Beshear’s direction during the pandemic. Specifically, he directed development districts to eliminate waitlists for meals using COVID-era funding. Then, with little warning, development districts were told in a letter last month that the money they had gotten thus far was all they’d be receiving for the rest of the fiscal year.

GOP Sen. Greg Elkins of Winchester ca

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