Township Golden Seniors Upset with $4,000 Cut

Members of the Golden Seniors of the Township of Washington attended the township council budget meeting Monday to ask council members to reconsider a $4,000 cut to their budget for 2011.

Golden Seniors President Kay Coppola said the cut is nearly 30 percent of the senior club budget, which she said isn't right. "We have not had or asked for any increase at all to my knowledge for the last 12 years I've been president," she said. "To take almost 30 percent away from us is a big chunk. And to deprive or think that we don't deserve anything, I think we do. We’re the backbone and roots of this town."

Council President Fred Goetz said the decision was not one meant to try to disrespect the seniors in any way. He said every portion of the budget had to be looked at carefully in order to make cuts. Out of the $14,000 in the budget for the Golden Seniors, Goetz said $2,000 was for arts and crafts, speakers, entertainment and dancing while $12,000 was for three dinners at . He said the council took away $4,000, which represents one of those dinners.

Councilman Joseph D'Urso pointed out that the township doesn't supply food to other recreational groups, which is the category under which the Golden Seniors fall. He added that recreational fees have increased for residents enrolling their children in sports programs.

"It's my opinion that everybody's got to cut back a little bit," D'Urso said.

Council Vice President Steve Cascio added that while he knows the seniors have done a lot for the township, cuts are happening across the board. "We are making budget cuts all the way around," he said. "We did look at this as we were supplementing a function that might not be necessarily required."

Golden Seniors Treasurer Jack Kenney pointed out that other municipalities hire outside senior directors to do the work volunteers in the township are currently doing.

Members of the Golden Seniors pay $10 annually in dues which the club collects and uses to offset expenses. Coppola said the group has more than 200 members. The club also gets $3,000 in grant money which helps pay for bus trips. Kenney said the bus trips typically cost $5,000 in total.

Mayor Janet Sobkowicz said in the past, the council has tried to provide recreation for each age group, including children's programs, men's softball and basketball and seniors. She said since the seniors haven't gotten an increase in their budget in more than 10 years, "a 30 percent cut is quite a big cut."

Members of the council did not vote to reverse their decision, so the $4,000 cut stands for now, leaving the Golden Seniors with $10,000 from the township for the year.

The next budget meeting is scheduled for Friday at 5:15 p.m. in the third floor conference room of the , 350 Hudson Ave.

Goetz said the council would be applying for an extension to introduce the municipal budget. The deadline for introduction is Friday.