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Local aging nonprofit urges council to restore $25,000 after funding cut; council agrees to review
Summary
Central Virginia Alliance for Community Living told council the city cut 100% of its funding after 50 years of support and asked for the reinstatement of $25,000; council voted 6-1 to add the issue to the next work session for review.
Representatives of the Central Virginia Alliance for Community Living (CVACL), the region's local area agency on aging, told City Council the city removed its $25,000 contribution and urged restoration of the funding during public comment.
Margaret McKenna, speaking on behalf of CVACL because the regular presenter was ill, told council the nonprofit serves older adults and people with disabilities across the region and that the city’s cut jeopardizes federal matching funds and services. "We were shocked and remain very concerned that the city council cut 100% of funding to CVACL this coming year without any notice after 50 years of support," McKenna said. She cited program statistics for Lynchburg residents, including in‑home assessments, home‑delivered meals and medical-transport trips, and asked the council to reconsider and amend the budget to reinstate the $25,000 cut.
Council members responded by putting the matter on the council's work-session agenda. A motion to add consideration of restoring CVACL funding to the next work session passed 6-1 after a brief discussion in which several members said they were unaware the funding had been removed and supported trying to find a way to restore it.
Council members who spoke publicly said they value the agency's services and that the small local match supports much larger federal dollars and service delivery. Staff and council asked CVACL to share program detail documents; council directed that the funding-restoration review be scheduled at the next work session.
The council did not change the budget at the meeting; the vote authorized only that staff place the item on the next work session agenda for further consideration.
