East Point: Let’s all chip in for senior centers

By Teresa Nelson

Unless your head is stuck in Georgia’s red clay, you know local governments are in financial crises. Revenue has sunk like the proverbial stone and expenses must be slashed to balance budgets.

Fulton County is not alone in this dilemma, and our commissioners should make wise cuts that do not harm critical services. The courts, for example, face furloughing staff and reducing court days, and the judges have justifiably raised serious concerns.

What can the commissioners cut without hurting essential services? How about the sacred cow — the senior centers? Retirees vote consistently, and often expect officials to support services and tax breaks for seniors.

Few would deny that the elderly on limited income deserve a break, but should such assistance and benefits extend to those who can afford to pay for them? Just how far do we go when the bulk of the financial burden will be borne by those still in the work force struggling to support their families?

Fulton County’s senior centers provide critical services and important activities for the elderly, and I am not advocating closing their doors or sharply reducing their programs. But we seniors can step up to the plate and help pay the freight. And yes, I say “we.”

I believe that birthdays (particularly mine) in a certain age range — say, 40 to 90 — are best ignored. Unless, of course, you hit a milestone by turning 55, the age of eligibility for senior center programs. The popular Bowden Center in East Point often has full participation in its classes and the facility is a beehive of activity. Most of its programs are free while others require a small fee. The center contains the city’s only public pool, but you must be 55 to swim.

You also must attend an orientation session. I was not sure why orientation is required to simply use the pool, since I have been swimming my entire life, but I took a vacation day for the weekday morning session and dutifully attended.

At orientation, the very nice presenter mentioned that non-Fulton residents are supposed to pay an annual fee, which can be divided into several small installments. However, she then proceeded to point out that the fee is rarely collected.

Isn’t it past time to start collecting the non-resident fee? In addition, it’s time to determine the actual cost of services at the facilities.

Even with the economy of scale, maintenance, utilities and staff must be paid. Fees for all the programs, use of the space and equipment should be charged. A reasonable annual membership or nominal fee for service would still be cheaper than membership at a private facility. For those who cannot afford even a nominal fee, capable volunteers are welcome. And in this difficult economy, those of us who can afford to contribute should do so. Fund-raising needs to become a critical function at senior centers.

Fulton County’s senior centers serve a great need. By staying active, seniors can remain healthy. But when an elderly widow must wait several months to get a court date to probate her late husband’s estate, or when my senior neighbors’ get their cars stolen and the suspects are released when they can’t get a trial date, just how important will the senior centers be then? Let’s help keep the doors to the courthouse open by doing our fair share to pick up the tab to fund our senior centers.

Teresa Nelson is a former East Point City Council representative and longtime activist. Rick Badie is off.