Lewis County Commissioners Edna Fund, center-right, and Gary Stamper, right, answer questions during a community meeting at the Twin Cities Senior Center in December 2016. It was part of a series of meetings following news the county planned to end $375,000 in annual funding for the senior center.
The Centralia City Council approved $15,000 in funding for enrichment programs at the senior centers in Lewis County on Tuesday.
“I think it is our responsibility as a council and a city to support the seniors,” Councilor Joyce Barnes said.
Traditionally, the city has given $5,000 to the senior centers each year, Finance Director Bret Brodersen said. This budget cycle, it was increased to $10,000 after Barnes had requested the possibility of a raise be evaluated. The first $5,000 raise was built into the 2018 budget, which is revenue neutral, Brodersen said.
The second was added by the council Tuesday night after it was requested by Glenda Forga, who was speaking on behalf of the Lewis County Seniors board. The additional $5,000 will come from unassigned funds totaling around $625,000 in the general fund.
“The money will go toward enrichment programs that keep seniors viable and in their homes,” she said.
Enrichment programs are any program at the senior centers that do not include nutrition, Forga said. Examples include classes about bones, balance and diabetes prevention. Nutrition programs are funded federally, she said.
At the rate the population is aging and with increasing lifespans, the senior centers will not be able to meet the needs in the community with the current funding, Forga said. However, the need can be met through partnerships with local businesses and governments.
The senior centers in Lewis County formed a nonprofit organization in June after the Lewis County commissioners announced they would no longer fund them. Previously, the centers had received about $375,000 in annual funding from the county.
Last week, the commissioners agreed to provide $275,000 to the senior centers as well as a $5 a year lease agreement for centers operating in county owned buildings as they transition to the private sector.
Centralia Councilor Max Vogt asked Tuesday if the money provided by the city could be earmarked for enrichment activities for seniors in Centralia.
City Manager Rob Hill said an agreement with the centers’ nonprofit group would be required before money would be given to them, then that agreement would generate an invoice which the city would pay. In the agreement, it would outline what the money could be used for. Although he did not say specifically whether the city could impose the restriction suggested by Vogt, it could say the money would be limited to enrichment activities.
The council agreed the money would come from unassigned funds within the general fund, however Councilor Ron Greenwood suggested the city earmark funds from the 1 percent property tax levy the city has the opportunity to raise each year.
That levy would raise about $6,800 for the city. However, the council decided after he made the suggestion not to take the 1 percent tax levy allowed to them under state law because it felt it was not needed.
That motion was approved 5-2 with Mayor Lee Coumbs and Vogt voting against it.
