Goddard senior center urges county to increase funding after membership jumps to 528 in under a year

Amanda Treadwell, a volunteer director for the Goddard Senior Center and chair of the Goddard Senior Citizens Advisory Board, told the commission the center has grown rapidly since opening in 2024 and asked that Sedgwick County increase funding in the 2026 budget and work with frontline leaders on a revised funding model.

"Since opening in 2024, just shy of 1 year, our Goddard Senior Center has grown from 59 to 528 members as of yesterday," Treadwell said. She asked the commission to "consider increasing funding for senior centers in [the] 2025 budget, particularly for the Goddard Senior Center," and to include center directors in designing a more equitable funding formula.

Mayor George Leeb of Goddard told commissioners the city increased local support and donated $46,000 in 2025 while the county’s grant for the center remained $6,000. The mayor said the center is building partnerships, volunteer networks and programs including a van grant and new transportation services that help reach isolated seniors.

Commissioners acknowledged the center’s rapid growth and discussed the county’s aging-services budget, which staff estimated at about $14 million annually. Commissioner Howell reviewed the history of the seniors funding formula, saying earlier formulas relied on past performance and that newer starts often receive small startup grants until performance history can be measured.

Commissioners and staff said the funding model will be under review as the county hires a new aging director: "I think the conversation on the funding formula... is gonna kick back into gear," Chairman Beatty said, noting the aging department’s role and that the county is considering different strategies including block-grant approaches and targeted increases to existing centers.

Treadwell invited commissioners to visit the center and offered to work with staff on a workshop to design a modernized, equitable funding model.