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Senior-center leaders warn county that cuts could jeopardize $134,000 in contracted services
Summary
The Watson Senior Center’s director and bookkeeper told the commission that restricted contract funding requires local operational support, and that removing county funding risks compliance and delivery of services valued at roughly $134,000 to local seniors.
At the Carter County Commission meeting, Britney Shell, executive director of the Watson Senior Center, appealed to commissioners to preserve county operational funding that supports the center’s administration of federally and state-restricted contracts.
“This is not to suggest that if all these funds disappear immediately the center closes on July 1,” Shell said. “My concern is what happens over time when the operational infrastructure required to administer these programs is weakened.”
Shell said the packet materials distributed to commissioners listed restricted contract funds (not operating dollars) tied to services such as meals, transportation and caregiver assistance, and that those contracts total services valued in the range of $135,000 this year. She emphasized that those funds may not be used for general operating costs and said losing county operational support could imperil the center’s ability to meet contract compliance requirements.
Denny Smith, the center’s bookkeeper, provided additional detail. He told commissioners the unrestricted portion in the packet was $10,280, and that the contracted services brought approximately $134,610 into Carter County this year. Smith said the center operates on a bare-bones staff (reported as two full-time employees, one part-time employee and a low-hour custodian) and that county support of $26,500 is small relative to the contracted-service revenue the center helps deliver.
“We're not asking the county to carry us,” Smith said. “Through memberships, donations, grants, fundraising and community support we generate between 23% and 26% of our own operating budget.” He asked commissioners to consider that removing county support would reduce the county’s ability to deliver contracted services to older residents.
What it means: Senior-center leaders framed county operational funding as infrastructure that enables restricted contracts and outside funding to flow into Carter County; they warned that cutting that support risks administrators’ capacity to meet reporting and service-delivery obligations.
Next steps: Commissioners did not take immediate formal action during the public-comment period. The budget committee and commissioners will consider the center’s testimony in upcoming budget deliberations.
