Final plea made for senior center

By Nick Otto

Published: June 17, 2008

Manassas Senior Day Care Center supporters turned out in droves Tuesday, yet again, to try and compel Prince William supervisors to overturn an April budget cut that closes the facility's doors on Friday.

This time, as opposed to the last two or three public appeals to the board, speakers to the topic during citizens' time adopted a decidedly harsher tone.

"These folks pay taxes," said one Nokesville resident, "and so do their families. They have a right to be expected to be         protected and to have recreation."

And from another: "This is the worst decision you have ever made. What a slap in the face to those in the county who need it most."

And still another: "George Washington was the founder of our country," the female speaker said, addressing board members. "You are the parents of Prince William County. Why are you really closing the center? Tell us what's really going on. You owe it to us."

One more: "Is there nothing we can do to reach your ears?" asked one woman. "Your ears are closed and your hearts are cold and black."

Del. Robert "Bob" Marshall,          R-Prince William, spoke, too, characterizing the board's cut as distressing and adding that no government entity operated so soundly as to not be able to find savings somewhere.

"Surely you can find $5,000 here, $10,000 there, shutting off lights at the soccer field early, what have you," Marshall said.

Apparently not. The entreaties, in the end, failed to bring the desired votes.

Supervisors cut funding to the facility in April in response to a tight budget season and at the recommendation of the county executive, and saved a reported $233,169 in the process, according to county documents.

"This facility was … operating in the red," said Supervisor John Jenkins, D-Neabsco, in an earlier interview. "We had tried to rescue them a year before by giving them advice … and it was draining resources from the rest of the [Area Agency on Aging] program."

Center supporters debate that savings' figure, which they say is closer to $150,000, and also decry the ongoing funding for the eastern senior center that made it through budget cuts.

Or, as one speakers asked Tuesday: "How can you provide services to citizens in the east, and not in the west?"

Some of the 26 who are currently served by the Manassas facility, according to a county presentation that was given just before citizen's time, have either transferred or are considering transfer to the Woodbridge senior facility and the privately operated Hearth & Home, located in Western Prince William.

Staff writer Cheryl Chumley can be reached at 703-670-1907.