The financially strapped Cowley County Council on Aging was back at the county commission table Tuesday morning with a new and more conservative budget proposal than presented by director Mary Woods before.
“It’s going to be a challenge for her to live within this budget,” said County Administrator Leroy Alsup. “It will get her back on an even keel.”
The commission did not approve the new proposal, but has been waiting for all budgets to be submitted before deciding what they can fund during 2008.
“Leroy (Alsup) will help you but we don’t have a bucket full of money,” said commission chair Dick Bonfy.
The commission bailed out the Council in June with a one-time grant to pay off $4,100 in payroll taxes, $6,000 in IRS penalties, and a $6,000 credit card bill.
Woods said then that without additional funding the future of some friendship meal programs at senior citizen centers might be in jeopardy. ‘In some cases, the senior center is the only place seniors have to meet,” she said in June.
The county has 5,366 people 65 years old or older. The Council assisted 2,247 seniors since November, 2005. A partial mil levy provided $155,000 but voters have authorized the commission to levy a full mill. That would generate approximately $200,000.
Woods said she saved some money by hiring a part-time employee to replace a full-time employee who was leaving. That means Woods will have to take on some of the work the full-time employee performed.
The biggest difference between the first and second budget is that the first showed the agency running at a loss while the second shows a balanced budget. The county appropriation for 2008 is listed at $170,000.
“We’ll be budgeting very quickly so you’ll know where we are on it very quick,” Bonfy said.