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Attorney for Colony Senior Service Centers warns of deeper cuts; town official says funding was reallocated to town programs
Summary
Richard Rowlands, attorney for the Colony Senior Service Centers, told the board that cumulative cuts would total about $95,000 over two years for congregate lunches and transportation if the preliminary budget's proposed reductions proceed; a town official said some funds were redirected to department-run senior programs and county/grant resources are also used.
Richard Rowlands, representing Colony Senior Service Centers, told the board that the nonprofit served thousands of seniors in recent years and warned that prior reductions ($50,000 in 2025) plus proposed cuts in the preliminary 2026 budget (about $45,000 as cited on the record) would amount to roughly $95,000 over two years, jeopardizing congregate lunches and transportation services.
Rowlands told the board the nonprofit provided more than 37,000 hot congregate lunches and over 25,000 rides in 2024 and said transportation losses have been acute. "If this comes to fruition, we will have to seriously reconsider which programs and services we will be able to provide to senior residents in the town of Colonie," he said.
Angelina, director of the town's senior resources department, responded that Colony Senior Services is a not‑for‑profit that also receives county funding and that the town department has been reallocating resources to run town senior programs, including a new "lunch and learn" series. Angelina described the town's efforts to coordinate clubs across the municipality and to deploy town resources focused on residents.
The board heard the concerns during the budget public hearing; no formal funding decision altering the preliminary budget was made on the record at the meeting. Rowlands' request was to have the board consider not cutting the nonprofit's funding in 2026.
