TGB Approves Home & Auto Repair Increase for Elders

By Joe Morey News Editor

The Lac Courte Oreilles (LCO) Tribal Governing Board (TGB) unanimously approved raising the LCO Tribal Elder Services home and auto repair budget from $1,350 to $1,500 at their weekly meeting on Monday, Feb. 10. The increase takes effect immediately and will run through the current fiscal year.

This marks the first increase in the program’s budget since 2020, when the annual allocation was raised from $217,000 to $300,000. The additional funding aims to assist elders with essential home and auto repairs, helping them manage unexpected expenses.

LCO Elder Services Coordinator Doreen Wolfe reported to the TGB that she assisted 340 elders last year with home and auto repairs. To support this growing demand, the program’s overall budget needed to be increased by $51,000.

In addition to home and auto repair assistance, the LCO Elder Services program provides crucial support to tribal elders through services such as firewood delivery, lawn care, and snowplowing.

LCO Vice Chairman Tweed Shuman praised the increase, emphasizing its importance in ensuring more elders can afford costly repairs.

“With this increase, more of our elders may afford the expensive costs of home or auto repairs, and more of our elders can receive these services,” Shuman said.

Shuman also noted that elders have flexibility in how they use the $1,500, allowing them to mix and match funds between home and auto repairs as needed.

The budget increase underscores the tribe’s commitment to supporting its elders and ensuring they have access to essential services that enhance their quality of life.