WARREN — Trumbull County commissioners on Wednesday finalized funding for senior services, approving $625,000 annually for community senior centers and $257,000 for homemaker and chore programs.

The decision, made during their regular meeting, supports seniors across the county, but raised concerns from one center facing a funding shortfall.

The funding, effective from Nov. 1, 2025, to Oct. 31, 2027, will support senior centers in Warren, Howland, Cortland, Hubbard, Newton Falls, Niles, and three new centers in Bristol, Brookfield and Champion townships.

Family & Community Services Inc., which operates the area’s SCOPE Centers, will receive $369,900 to operate these centers, with $13,380 for each new location. Other centers, like Johnston Senior Center ($47,681), Farmington Senior Center ($56,154), Girard Multi-Generational Center ($61,015), McDonald ($46,500), and Country Neighbor Program ($43,750), also received funds.

Laura Carey, director of the Girard Multi-Generational Center, spoke at the meeting, warning that the $61,015 awarded is less than the $71,000 her center requested.

“This is going to negatively affect the seniors that use my center,” Carey said.

She said two years ago, her center faced a similar cut and used $34,400 in federal American Rescue Plan funds to cover the gap. With those funds gone, Carey said the center cannot make up the difference, which could hurt programs keeping seniors active and independent.

Commissioner Rick Hernandez noted that Girard’s center receives $201,000 from a local levy, more than other centers.

“They have a senior levy bringing in significant funds,” he said, explaining that the Senior Services Advisory Council recommended keeping Girard’s funding at $61,015 to balance support across the county.

Commissioner Denny Malloy questioned why Girard’s center, housed in a former school building, needs more funding.

“Do you have four times the number of programs or attendees compared to other centers?” he asked Carey.

She replied that her center’s unique setup and higher costs justify the need, and the community supports it through their local levy.

Commissioner Tony Bernard asked Carey to provide a list of services that might be cut because of the lower funding.

“We want to take a closer look at what you do,” Bernard said, showing interest in finding solutions.

The commissioners also approved $257,000 for homemaker and chore programs from Oct. 1, 2025, to Aug. 31, 2026, to help seniors who are bedridden or need assistance at home. Four vendors will provide these services, with each receiving $50,500: Comfort Keepers, Carebuilders LLC, JDES Enterprises LLC (Clean Choice Maids) and Youngstown OH Caregiving LLC. Comfort Keepers will get an extra $55,000 for chores like lawn mowing or snow shoveling.

A fifth vendor, Quality Senior Homecare and Staffing, had their proposal rejected because their bid was incomplete.

Diane Siskowic-Jurkovic, senior levy administrator, said no centers were cut from last year’s funding, and the new centers in Bristol, Brookfield, and Champion are starting small to prove they can sustain operations. She also addressed challenges with the Senior Services Advisory Council, which has seen members quit because of the heavy workload.

She urged future applicants to contact her to understand the role. The commissioners discussed their commitment to seniors, with Hernandez noting they rejected a proposal to cut $125,000 from senior programs.

“We’re not cutting senior centers,” he said.

COALBURG LAKE

Also Wednesday, commissioners signed a resolution pledging their support toward Western Reserve Land Conservation’s (WRLC) securing funding through the Clean Ohio Program in order to purchase the 338-acre Coalburg Lake property in Brookfield and Hubbard townships.

The WRLC plans to buy land around Coalburg Lake and to save its old dam. Hubbard and Brookfield trustees already passed resolutions in support of the plan. The conservancy needed the backing by Friday to apply for Clean Ohio grants to buy the 338-acre property.

Alex Czayka, chief conservation officer for the Western Reserve Land Conservancy, said it has a deal to buy the land for about $1.3 million, which is lower than its $1.8 million to $2.2 million value. Them taking the lead on the project prevents township officials from risking money in the deal.