FABRIZIO GOWDY
Correspondent
County Commissioners drew blunt criticism from constituents over senior services funding at their Feb. 3 meeting.
“I hear so much bull**** coming out from you guys up here,” Quincy resident Clarence Tennell told commissioners. “This county was built on the back of seniors, including me. I worked in these fields around here for nothing, a dollar and a half a day. We deserve everything we get, you’re not giving us anything.”
Tennell’s remarks came as the board was discussing an agenda item that would allocate an additional $19,000 each to Gadsden Wellness, Gretna Senior Citizens, Midway Senior Citizens, and Greensboro Senior Citizens; the existing budget for each of those centers was $6,000.
Taking the podium, Quincy resident Kathy Brown contended that her center, Simon Scott Senior Center, has not received the type of funding it has previously been allocated.
“We received no money for activities — we have [recieved funds] in the past,” said Brown.
In response, Board Chair Eric Hinson also directed James to investigate the matter, saying that Brown deserved the right answer.
“This is some serious [business]. Somebody taking advantage of our seniors, we need to respond quickly,” said Hinson.
Hinson defended the county’s commitment to seniors, claiming that the county has increased its spending on senior services from $60,000 annually to almost $1 million. In an email to the Gadsden County Times, Finance Director Rose Raynak verified that claim as accurate.
Hinson also said he believes Gadsden County spends more on seniors than any county in northwest Florida or south Georgia, and directed County Administrator Reginald James to conduct a study to confirm if that is true.
“We’re really going all out for our seniors,” said Hinson.
Brown also thanked commissioners for providing a van for the county’s senior centers to use, but explained that some of the older seniors were struggling to board it because it is not handicap-equipped or fitted with running boards.
Former County Commissioner Sherrie Taylor also took the podium to state that $25,000 would only fund Gadsden Wellness for three months, claiming $65,000 to $70,000 is needed to fund Gadsden Wellness though the end of the fiscal year in October.
Taylor also criticized the limited reach of the county’s senior centers, claiming Gadsden has a population of 10,000 seniors and that only about 200 are served by current programs.
Weighing in, Commissioner Shawn Wood noted that polls show a potential property tax relief amendment is expected to pass in November, which would severely constrain the county’s ability to spend on senior services.
Havana Senior Citizens and Chattahoochee Senior Citizens were not included in the funding increase measure because they are run by the county’s Elderly Affairs Department and receive their financial support from that Department.
At Wood’s request, the Greensboro Senior Citizens increase was also split off the agenda item. The city has limited administrative capacity and wishes to have its senior services administered by the Elderly Affairs Department.
The board then voted unanimously to approve the $19,000 funding increases for Gadsden Wellness, Gretna Senior Citizens, Midway Senior Citizens.
The next meeting of the Gadsden BOCC will take place Feb. 17 at 6 p.m.
