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Rally Seeks More Funding for Senior Centers; A Proposed Bill Would Increase the Lottery Money Devoted to the Facilities.

Posted on: Thursday, 21 October 2004, 04:00 CDT

Retired trucker Lloyd Kornbau of Red Lion didn't mind standing in a cold drizzle outside the state Capitol Tuesday, because he hoped it would help convince lawmakers to better fund senior centers.

He was one of hundreds of seniors who rallied for a bill that would send more money to senior centers and local aging agencies from state lottery proceeds.

"I'm glad to be here. Rain, snow or whatever," said Kornbau, who often visits the Red Lion Area Senior Center.

The bill sponsored by state Rep. Dick Hess, R-Bedford, would guarantee that at least 27 percent of net lottery proceeds would go to senior centers and aging agencies. They would get an estimated $16 million more than they get now, and the money would be guaranteed each year.

Currently, 24.8 percent of lottery money is dedicated for those programs, but it's not guaranteed in the law. Those programs are among several funded by the lottery, which also pays for prescription drugs aid and property tax relief.

But backers of the bill will have to do more than stand in the rain to get it enacted, because Gov. Ed Rendell opposes it, spokesman Abe Amoros said.

Rendell believes the measure would cause a shortfall in lottery revenues and force a cutback in benefits for the PACE and PACENET prescription plans, Amoros said.

Of the prescription plans, Amoros said, "We clearly want to see more seniors added to these programs, not taken away."

Amoros added that the administration is still willing to talk to aging agencies about ways to address their funding.

Before Tuesday's rally, more than 100 seniors packed a committee room where the House Committee on Aging and Older Adult Services heard testimony on Hess' plan. The committee, which is chaired by Hess, approved the bill Oct. 5, but it was reassigned to the Appropriations Committee for a fiscal analysis.

Crystal Lowe, director of the York County Area Agency on Aging, testified before the panel and said the state's

aging network needs to prepare for aging baby boomers and seniors who are living longer.

"Our network is really eroding because of a lack of funding," said Lowe, who is also president of the Pennsylvania Association of Area Agencies on Aging.

In York County and across the state, seniors are on waiting lists for aging services such as meals and home care, and home services such as housecleaning are being scaled back, Lowe said.

Lowe said the lottery can afford Hess' plan without hurting the prescription plans because lottery revenues are increasing and the state expects more federal money for prescription relief.

Rep. Bev Mackereth, R-Spring Grove, a member of the committee and a co-sponsor of Hess' bill, said funding senior centers properly is a priority for her.

"There's no question that they serve such a valuable role in the community," Mackereth said.

York County representatives Ron Miller, R-Jacobus, Bruce Smith, R- Dillsburg, and Stan Saylor, R-Windsor Township, also are co- sponsors of Hess' bill.

QUOTE: Our network is really eroding because of a lack of funding.' CRYSTAL LOWE, YORK COUNTY AREA AGENCY ON AGING

Source: York Daily Record

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