Senior Center Bases Budget On Projected Income

The Cannon County Senior Center serves 1,200+ senior citizens of Cannon County. The Senior Center operates under a governing Board of Directors; and, each year a budget is constructed by the Budget Committee and approved by the Board of Directors to serve the needs of those seniors. The budget is based on projected income. For the 2010-2011 budget, $25,000 was requested from the City of Woodbury ($10,000) and Cannon County ($15,000). Those entities provided only $11,500 ($5,000 City and $6,500 County) of that $25,000 need. Thus, the need was not met, and cuts had to be considered for the Senior Center.

The State, County and City provide less than 25% of the funding for the budget annually. Grants, donations and fundraising efforts provide the rest, with hard work contributed by the Board and Staff. Some of the cuts are coming because grants ended and there are no funds available to continue these services. However, the Board and Staff of the Senior Center will make every endeavor to raise funds to support the programs projected, as achieved in the past when funding has been short. In fact, $2,200 has already been raised toward meeting the $13,500 shortfall.

The State and Upper Cumberland Area Agency on Aging has praised our Senior Center, even asking the Center to move to a Level III Center. To provide the services under a Level III operation would require greatly increased funding from local governments. Other Level III Centers in the Upper Cumberland Region receive $25,000 or more from their local governments.

A question was raised regarding salary increases to staff when cuts in programs were being made. The Senior Center has moved from operating 35 hours per week to 40 hours per week, mandated by State guidelines for a Level III Center. The Board felt the Director should be compensated for that. Another employee received a grant which increased that salary to oversee the needs of the grant.

The Senior Center Board of Directors fully supports and appreciates our employees who provide for the senior citizens of Cannon County. If you any have questions regarding the Senior Center’s operations and budget, please call the Center at 563-5304 or talk with one of our Executive Board Members.

Sincerely,

Bro. Herb Alsup, Jim Cummings Representative
Rita Cook, Chairman
Martha Eggleston, Vice Chairman
Deborah L. Shahan, Secretary