Racine County Meals on Wheels: 2027 funding explained

Originally published by Racine County Eye.

Overview:

Home Delivered Meals is the existing Meals on Wheels program, not its replacement. The 2027 proposal lists $838,122 in expenses, $656,531 in other revenue and $181,591 in net local cost.

The county calls the Meals on Wheels service “Home Delivered Meals.” Its Senior Nutrition page says drivers also check on participants’ well-being. County Executive Ralph Malicki’s proposal says the county would “fully fund the Home Delivered Meals program with levy.” Other revenue would cover part of the cost; the proposed local share is $181,591.

How many meals were served?

The county’s 2025 meal-provider bid listing reports 94,589 home-delivered meals and 5,444 meals at Senior Dining sites in 2024. Those are meal counts, not unique people served.

Why funding became an issue

In December 2025, Racine County Eye reported that county officials warned of a projected $240,000 shortfall for 2026. Without more support, 117 older adults could face a waiting list beginning Jan. 1. Those were projections, not a confirmed count of people turned away.

The story quoted Human Services Director Hope Otto: “These meals are a lifeline. They help keep older adults safe, nourished, and connected.”

At the Sept. 14 county meeting, Central Racine County Health Department Health Officer Jeff Langlieb read a written program update to committee members: “Meals on Wheels is utilizing the major gift fund grant for new participants and to serve all members five days per week through the end of the year.”

“There is currently not a wait list,” he said, reading the update.

Participants asked whether reports of a waiting list had discouraged others from applying and how people who had been waiting would be notified. Langlieb replied, “That is a fantastic question that I don’t have an answer for.” He said he would check with the department.

How the funding would work

The proposed 2027 budget assigns $838,122 in expenses to Home Delivered Meals. It expects $656,531 from three sources:

• $401,238 in intergovernmental revenue, or funds from other governments.
• $105,293 in nutrition program revenue.
• $150,000 from managed-care organizations for home-delivered meals.

That leaves $181,591 as the proposed local share. Malicki says levy dollars would cover it. The budget does not identify the grants behind the intergovernmental revenue or say whether participants would still contribute.

The local share also changed in 2026. The original budget put it at $39,794; a later revision raised it to $59,794. Those are budget figures, not actual spending. The projected $240,000 shortfall reported in December 2025 was a separate 2026 estimate, not the proposed 2027 local share.

The 2027 proposal does not say how many people or meals that funding would cover.

How to ask about meals

Call 262-833-8766, toll-free at 866-219-1043, or email RCNutrition@racinecounty.gov to ask about eligibility, current openings, delivery days and any participant contribution.

The county’s eligibility information says applicants must be 60 or older, generally unable to leave home without help, have difficulty preparing meals, be unable to attend senior dining and have no one able to cook for them. The Sept. 14 update describes availability on that date only.

What happens next?

The County Board can change Malicki’s budget proposal. A public hearing is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Oct. 22, 2026, in the County Board Chambers at the Ives Grove Office Building. Residents can comment in person or in writing.

After the budget is adopted, Racine County Eye will compare the final funding with the proposal and check delivery schedules, enrollment and waiting lists in early 2027.