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Council asks staff to verify senior-center funding sources after public questions about FEMA and homeless-grant use
Summary
Parlier finance staff confirmed the senior center runs on general fund support and said revenues cover only a fraction of expenses; councilmembers asked staff to verify whether FEMA or homeless-grant funds were used previously and to correct records if impermissible uses occurred.
During the July 8 budget workshop Parlier finance staff said the senior center is typically funded by the general fund and runs on a recurring deficit. Councilmembers pressed for clarification after community questions about prior statements that FEMA or homeless-grant funds had been used to support the center.
Finance Director Myra Escobedo said the senior center’s projected revenues for the coming year are about $6,500 while expenses are about $85,200, leaving the difference to be covered by the general fund. “We get very little. We have revenues at 6,500, but the actual expenses are 85,000. So the difference is what's pulling from the general fund on that one,” Escobedo said.
A councilmember told the workshop that community members had referred to a March 2023 roundtable in which staff allegedly stated $30,000 came from the general fund and $30,000 came from a homeless grant. Councilmembers asked Myra to verify whether any FEMA hazard-mitigation funds, homeless-grant funds, or other restricted funds had been used to pay senior-center operating costs, and to reallocate funds if any were found to have been used inappropriately. Escobedo responded, “I will look into that,” when asked to verify the prior statements and correct any misallocations.
Staff noted the senior center may receive some targeted program funding for wellness programs from outside health partners (for example, Sierra Kings Health was mentioned as a prior source for wellness work) but said there is no standing state program that fully covers the center’s operating cost. Councilmembers asked staff to document any past use of restricted funds and to ensure that, going forward, grants are used only for allowable program purposes.
