Commissioners discuss change in center funds

Girard set to see 35% cut in senior facility’s allocation

WARREN -- Trumbull County commissioners are expected to approve recommendations to provide nine senior centers across the county with an allocation of $619,704.30 per year over the next two years.

This allocation has been recommended by the Trumbull County Senior Services Advisory Council.

Leaders at the Girard Multi-Generational Center, 443 Trumbull Ave., Girard, during the last two commissioner workshop meetings, have fought to have its projected budget increased to the level it received in the last program funding cycle, which was $71,000 per program year.

Instead, the advisory council is recommending Girard receive $61,008.26 annually.

Laura Carey, administrative director of the Girard center, argued that the advisory council reduced the amount Girard was expecting to receive while every other senior center is recommended to receive increases over their previous budgets.

Carey argued that the projected decrease would represent a 35 percent cut in the revenue received over the last two program cycles.

She argued the Girard center is one of the oldest senior centers in Trumbull County; it is used by Girard city residents as well as residents of more than a half-dozen other communities; and Girard residents approved a levy to help support the maintenance of the center's building.

Diane M. Siskowic-Jurkovic, the county's senior levy administrator, countered by noting Girard's Multi-Generational Center is being recommended for a reduced award based on the number of program hours actually used by residents.

"The advisory council looked at how the current senior centers utilized their funds to make its determination," Siskowic-Jurkovic said.

The senior centers receive funding based on the number of program hours the centers are open per day.

There are nine senior centers receiving funding from the county's senior levy. The centers include two new centers, Country Neighbor Program Inc., 8441 Main St., in Kinsman, and Family & Community Services Inc., 705 Oakwood St., Ravenna, which will have a new site in Hubbard.

The these two new centers will receive a combined $68,912 per year.

The Johnston Senior Center Inc. near Cortland, which is projected to receive $56,345; Family & Community Center Services Inc., 705 Oakwood St., which operates Cortland, $56,345, Newton Falls, $56,345, and Niles SCOPE Center, $56,345; Farmington Senior Center Inc., West Farmington, $56,336.20; Village of McDonald, 451 Trumbull Ave., $51,207.84; and Girard Community Inc., 443 Trumbull Ave. -- were recognized as six-hour centers.

Girard previously had been recognized as an eight-hour center, but based on the program hours recorded over last two years, it was reduced to a six-hour center by the advisory council.

Girard originally requested $78,430 per year. That amount was reduced to $61,008.26 by the advisory council.

Siskowic-Jurkovic last week said Girard only used $60,000 worth of program hours in each of the last two years, so the council members decided not to allow the facility to leave money it is not using on the table.

"It was the council that recommended the $61,000," she said. "I had recommended more."

Siskowic-Jurkovic said there was a total $625,000 budget, but the advisory council only recommended using $619,000.

"We are serving a number of people greater than people in the Girard area," Carey said. "We are the only center receiving a decrease from the last funding cycle."

Commissioner Mauro Cantalamessa last week enthusiastically supported the Girard Multi-Generational Center.

"I know how people feel about that center. A 35 percent decrease does not do it justice at all," he said. "We need to get them to the $71,000. I can support that."

The people in Girard rely and support the center, like no other center, Cantalamessa said.

"The center has become an institution in the community," he added.

"I believe we are giving the Trumbull County Senior Levy a better value than other centers," Carey noted. "Please don't cut us more than last year's program funding."

Both Cantalamessa and Commissioner Denny Malloy last week asked Siskowic-Jurkovic to convince the advisory council increase the amount closer to $70,000.

On Tuesday, however, advice the advisory council received from the Trumbull County Prosecutor's Office said it would have to delay the awards to all of the senior centers if the commissioners change the amount it provides to Girard.

Based on the prosecutor's recommendation, the two commissioners expect to support the original recommendation of the advisory board. Commissioner Niki Frenckho did not attend Tuesday's workshop.

Malloy, however, suggested the commissioners may be able to revisit the funding later in year.

The two eight-hour centers are Family and Community Services Inc., which provides services for the Warren SCOPE Center. Warren SCOPE has been recommended to receive $78,430 per year.

Howland SCOPE Center is projected to receive $78,430.