CSCS: Council of Senior Centers and Services of NYC, Inc.

NY STATE OFFICE FOR THE AGING (SOFA) BUDGET
CUT BY $9.8 MILLION
ADDITIONAL LEGISLATIVE ADD-ONS, $5 MILLION, FOR SNAP HOME-DELIVERED MEALS, EISEP CASE MANAGEMENT & HOME CARE, AND COMMUNITY SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY (CSE) NEEDS TO BE RESTORED

Governor David Paterson’s budget included the following cuts to SOFA’s budget:
•    $7 million in COLA increases for services funded through SNAP, EISEP, and CSE deferred for FY2010-2011.
•    $890,000 – elimination of the Congregate Services Initiative program
•    $2 million of state funds in SOFA’s budget would be cut and replaced with ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) federal stimulus money which will exist for only one year making this an additional $2 million cut to SOFA.
•    $5 million – ARRA federal stimulus money was used to fund SNAP, EISEP and CSE. These funds are legislative add-ons and good for only one year.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:
1.    Please call your state assembly members and senators immediately with the message: “NO CUTS TO THE STATE OFFICE FOR THE AGING. CUTS TO MEALS-ON-WHEELS, TRANSPORTATION, HOME CARE AND CASE MANAGEMENT WILL ENDANGER THE LIVES OF OLDER NEW YORKERS.”
2.    Invite your state representatives immediately to your senior center, NORC, or program to discuss the cuts. It is important that seniors advocate for no cuts and ask questions during your state representative’s visit.

The state budget will be completed by March 31st.  Because of the difficult financial times the state is in, state assembly members and senators must hear from constituents in their district that they are opposed to cuts to the State Office for the Aging.  These cuts hurt elderly New Yorkers and family caregivers who depend upon the services to help keep their loved one in the community.

CSCS is pleased to inform you that the NY State Office for the Aging was not cut. There was a proposed $5.5 million cut which would have impacted the SNAP home-deliver meals program, EISEP case management and home care, funding for transportation, and other services.  CSCS worked closely with the state legislature to prevent the cuts. There was a 12.5% across-the-board cut to all Senate member item funds. Please check with your State Senator to follow up on this. Please urge your Senator to keep your funding as a priority as it is up to the Senator where to cut funds.

Please send thank you letters to Governor David Paterson, the Assembly and Senate Aging Chairs and your local state representatives.  Thank them for not cutting the services listed above that seniors depend upon to age in place in their homes and communities. It is important to thank them as there will likely be more proposed state budget cuts next year.

Governor David Paterson
State Capitol
Albany, New York 12224

Senator Ruben Diaz, Sr.
Chair, Committee on Aging
900 Rogers Place
Bronx, NY  10459

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz
Chair, Committee on Aging
3107 Kingsbridge Avenue
Bronx, NY 10463