Carbon County's Medical Assistance Transportation Program is receiving less money next year, but operations will continue as normal, officials report.

During the county commissioners' meeting on Thursday, the board voted to approve the fiscal year 2014-2015 Medical Assistance Transportation Program grant agreement. The tentative allocation is $1,160,478, which represents a decrease of $461,922 from the last fiscal year. The funding comes from a mix of state and federal funds.The MATP program, which is operated through Carbon County Community Transit and overseen by LANTA, is designed to help people on medical assistance or with the ACCESS card by providing a free ride to medical appointments.Commissioner William O'Gurek said that the decrease in funds does not necessarily represent a cut because the funding allocation is based on ridership projections and the total allocation can change throughout the year based on the need.He said the county has given over 42,000 rides to doctor appointments last year.O'Gurek said in addition, LANTA is streamlining the program. For example, it is now buddying up on rides so that if a few people need to go to the same doctor or a close location, they are taken together, rather than in separate vehicles.In other matters, the commissioners approve an agreement with the Carbon County Action Committee regarding the administration of the 2014-2015 Human Services Development Fund program. The amount in the agreement is $49,000.The Human Services Development Fund program encompasses a number of programs to help low- to moderate-income people such as seniors or disabled individuals in their homes.Three popular programs include the Adult Homemaker Assistance Program, Chore Minor Home Repair Services and the Elderly Home Help Program.The Adult Homemaker Assistance Program and Elderly Home Help Program provide in-home assistance to income-eligible Carbon County residents who are disabled or recovering from a recent hospital stay and have no one else available to assist them with the care of their home or personal needs.Chore Minor Home Repair Services are available for income eligible Carbon County homeowners who are personally unable to perform certain home maintenance tasks and have no other responsible person available or capable of performing these tasks.O'Gurek said the allocation for the programs has been dropping over the past few years.In the 2009-2010 fiscal year, the state allocated $86,000."I wish the legislators and governor would think about putting more money into these programs because they are needed," he said.