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M/CLEAR Temp: 66 °F Wind: N at 13 mph Saturday, June 21, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend May 29, 2003 Dorothy BenBow, 77, works on a jigsaw puzzle at the Medford Senior Center Wednesday. The center�s funding from the county was cut Wednesday, despite pleas from clients. Mail Tribune / Jim Craven $231 million budget approved in split vote By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune After locking horns over a $12,500 reduction in funding for the Medford Senior Center, Jackson County commissioners Wednesday approved a $231 million budget for next year. Board Chairman Jack Walker cast the sole vote against the spending plan because he felt the Senior Center was a vital part of services funded through county dollars. He also objected to Commissioners Dave Gilmour and Sue Kupillas’ decision to reinstate $38,900 in funding for the Oregon State University Extension Service. "We pay for the Master Gardeners program, but we can’t pay for meals for seniors," said Walker. Advertisement The budget, hampered by a $3.4 million shortfall, cuts back on funding for the library system and the Southern Oregon Historical Society and increases planning fees. Patti Proctor, executive director of the Senior Center, said the center provides 114 meals a day to seniors throughout the county and gets most of its $258,000 yearly budget from other sources. "And we’re only asking for $12,500 and we can’t get it," she said. JoAnn Smith, 74, said the center is vital for her survival. "The noon meal at the Senior Center is my only meal each day," she said. Smith said she was in danger of losing her diabetic medications because of state funding problems earlier in the year. She said officials from the Senior Center stepped in and pushed the state to take care of the problem. "I could have died in the time it would have taken me to do that by mail," she said. Another client, Mary Paine, told commissioners, "I live alone. I am alone. The Senior Center is my life." The 83-year-old Medford resident urged the commissioners to reinstate funding that helps so many seniors in the county. "If you grant me this, I will leave in my will my skates and hula hoop," she said. Gilmour said other communities have funded their own senior centers and he doesn’t understand why Medford couldn’t help its own facility. But Walker said the Medford center provides more meals than all of the other centers in the county combined, and many of its clients come from surrounding communities, making it more of a regional center. Gilmour countered that other centers also take in clients from surrounding communities. Proctor said later that the center takes in 40 percent of its clients from outside of Medford. She is optimistic that she can persuade the city of Medford to give $12,500. Last year, the city gave $7,130. Kupillas said the county began giving the senior center funding only last year, and she was hesitant to continue funding any new budget items. The county has, however, supported the extension service for years. Jackson County extension agent Phil VanBuskirk said loss of county dollars would have reduced his programs budget from $160,000 to almost $120,000. "We haven’t seen this kind of budget since the 1980s," he said. New programs that target Hispanics interested in 4-H programs would have been in jeopardy, he said. Both Kupillas and Gilmour indicated 4-H and other programs help the community in more ways than just teaching children about agriculture. "The 4-H programs keep a lot of kids out of trouble," said Gilmour. But Walker asked supporters of the extension service to name an agency that merits any cutbacks. "Put yourself in our place," he said. "Where would you get the money?" Libraries, SOHS feel funding pinch While only two agencies complained to county commissioners about the adopted budget during a public hearing Wednesday, the $231 million package will affect the library system and the Southern Oregon Historical Society and will raise planning fees. "I am surprised there are only two groups when we’ve managed to make everybody in Jackson County mad at us," said Commissioner Sue Kupillas. The library system will see its budget reduced by $584,000, resulting in the loss of staff and the reduction of hours at many of its new facilities. The historical society will get a $250,000 reduction in funding, forcing the closure to the public of Hanley Farm and the Beekman House. To save $800,000, the Talent jail no longer will house prisoners, although it still will offer treatment services. The county also is set to increase planning fees to make the department more self-supporting, resulting in another $1.3 million for the general fund. "The problem we’re having is that revenue has increased by 5 percent, but costs have gone up by 8 percent," said county Finance Director Harvey Bragg. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times