Lancaster Senior Center operation funds withheld

Since about 1994, the City of Lancaster has provided $5,000 to the Senior Center for general operation expenses. The Senior Center Site Council and the Senior Center Manager (the manager is funded by Dallas County) approve the expenses for the daily activities of the Senior Center.

Even though the $5,000 has been approved in the 2006-2007 City budget, the City of Lancaster administration has refused to release the funds to the Senior Center. A plea was made to the City Council for the release of the funds, but the Council has refused to take any action to release the funds.

Bonds were approved for a new Senior Center in November of 2005. For several years, the seniors have been frugal with their activity expenses and have saved money in anticipation of enhancing the equipment and furnishing of the new Center.

The seniors have identified over $40,000 of potential asset purchases for the new Senior Center. The assets are for the kitchen, office, craft areas, and lounge areas. While it is expected that some of the assets will be furnished with the new Center, the senior’s have not been given a list of the furniture and equipment to be furnished with the new Senior Center.

The funds are held by the Park & Recreation Department in an account called "Special Events". In the 2005-2006 budget, the "Special Events" appropriation was $15,000, In the 2006-2007 budget the appropriation was increased to $25,000. Not only did the Park & Recreation receive an additional $10,000 in their budget, now they are taking the $5,000 of the seniors’ activity money for their own use.

The senior comments heard were that the City of Lancaster is unfair to it’s seniors. The whole purpose of the Senior Center is to enhance the quality of life and extend the independence of Lancaster’s aging citizens. If the City of Lancaster will not support and fund the Senior Center, why waste the money on a new Senior Center?

The new Senior Center is over a year behind schedule. The Senior Center was to be completed by February 2007.