Oswegoland Senior & Community Center seeks larger village operating grant; cites state elevator grant and mortgage goal

Michelle Bergeron, executive director of the Oswegoland Senior and Community Center, presented an annual update and an operating grant request at the Oct. 7 Village Board meeting.

Bergeron reported rising participation: unduplicated annual participants of about 1,756 and more than 36,000 annual program visits (duplicated count). She said the center operates with three full-time and three part-time staff, about 89 volunteers and a 10-member board.

On revenue, Bergeron provided a high-level breakdown of recent fiscal-year income: approximately $30,000 in individual donations, $12,000 in membership revenue, $13,000 from day-trip fees, $12,000 from annual special events, $24,000 from long trips, $45,000 from a township grant, $88,000 from Kendall County senior tax levy dollars, $48,000 from state aging program funding, $10,000 from a Kendall County 708 mental health grant, $50,000 from the village last year for operating, and foundation and other revenue cited at $70,000 each—totaling roughly $470,000 in annual income.

Bergeron said the center has secured about $2.5 million in state grant funding for an elevator and renovations (paperwork in process) and is raising funds to pay down about $800,000 of their building mortgage. She requested $60,000 in operating support for the coming year (the village provided $50,000 last year).

Village leaders said the request will be considered in the village budget process. Finance staff reported improved sales-tax receipts in recent returns and the board scheduled budget review for Oct. 25; trustees asked staff to present budget implications for Bergeron's request at the workshop.

No formal appropriation was adopted at the Oct. 7 meeting; the board indicated it will review the request during the budget workshop.