Standing up for our aging population

Gregg Reynolds
Published: July 15, 2008

There is $800,000 in a contingency fund that could be used to fund the $233,000 Manassas Senior Day Program today if the top officials in our Prince William County government desired to do so.

Unfortunately, no supervisor would stand up for this program because some believed that if they backed down on eliminating the MSDP then next year when they are again faced with budget cuts they will
be challenged every time they try to make more cuts.

This MSDP issue will not go away because it boils down to values. Sadly the people that pay the top money earners in PWC would rather have salary increases during our $100 million deficit than
support programs like the MSDP.

During difficult times people in healthy organizations pull together to sacrifice to help each other. Unfortunately, this does not seem to be the philosophy of the top officials in our current PWC government.
One told me that they would rather eliminate programs than take across-the-board cuts because it is easier. With these attitudes, our aging population once again comes out on the short end of the
stick — individuals that have paid their dues and fought our wars so now our top public officials can say thanks but no thanks. 

Not one person within our PWC government spoke during recent citizen’s times about the future needs of our aging population or on behalf of keeping the MSDP. Instead a number of the members of the
Commission on Aging sat quietly outside the chamber while many citizens were inside pleading to keep this important program. Who in our PWC government is planning and advocating for our aging
population?

I believe that our tax and budgeting practices have brought us to this point. They need to be reviewed by an independent blue ribbon panel of citizens from our community — interested citizens from all
walks of life and from the entire socioeconomic spectrum. Citizens that will recommend publicly to the supervisors improvements that will eliminate waste and improve our ability to match the needs of our
community with the resources available within our community to meet those needs. 

Please contact your PWC supervisor now and and ask her/him to create this important panel in time for our next 2010 budget cycle.

GREGG REYNOLDS

Woodbridge