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  • Tamara Dugar, left, and Debbie Winston, right, two of the senior nutrition program employees, prepare one of several home delivery meals at the Stephens County Senior Citizens Center. Rebeka Rutledge/The Duncan Banner

    Tamara Dugar, left, and Debbie Winston, right, two of the senior nutrition program employees, prepare one of several home delivery meals at the Stephens County Senior Citizens Center.
September 5, 2012

Sales tax proposal could save senior nutrition center

Rebeka Rutledge The Duncan Banner

DUNCAN — Editor’s note: This is the first in an ongoing series of articles that will be published this week about the sales tax resolution for the Nov. 6 general election ballot.

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Ask Ken Jones how his job has been the past few weeks and he’ll tell you not so good.

That’s because as director of supportive services division for Association of South Central Oklahoma Governments, he’s had to deliver bad news to senior citizen’s centers that they would have to close their doors which affects people directly when it comes to needing a daily meal.

“The funding these programs are needing is waning at an alarming rate,” said Jones. “It lost $144,000 this year and will lose $120,000 more next year.”

But, Jones is hopeful that voters will come through for Stephens County sites.

In August, Stephens County Board of Commissioners approved a proposition to add a sales tax resolution to the Nov. 6 general election ballot.

Should the 0.15 percent sales tax be approved by voters, it will be used to help several senior citizen nutrition programs in the county, as well as county fire departments.

If approved, the sales tax will stay in place for seven years, going into effect April 1, 2013 and expiring March 30, 2020.

For the senior citizen nutrition programs, this could be the saving grace they need in the face of numerous government budget cuts.

There are a total of five such nutrition centers within the county, all of which are helped with funding through  the Association of South Central Oklahoma Governments and Delta Community Action.

Already, some of the nutrition sites in other counties ASCOG coverage area have shut down, a fate Jones says he doesn’t want to see Stephens County sites fall to. In fact, his 10 year plan doesn’t include any federal funding.

“We’re going to need local support to keep these sites open and the people employed,” he said. “Other counties have already passed these sales taxes.”

Jan Garth with the Stephens County Senior Citizen Center is involved with the nutrition program at both sites.

Already, the centers are feeling the sting of the budget cuts.

“Other centers (in the state) have been closing and I think that’s horrible,” Garth said. “Douglass is in trouble and our home delivery list is frozen until we get more money.”

The centers offer hot lunches on site for only a $1.50 donation. It is not a required fee, the only requirement to  dine is that the subject be 60 years or older.

Those who are homebound are put on the home delivery list and while those who were on it previous to the budget cuts are still getting their meals, no more clients can be added to the list.

“For many of these people, it is the only hot meal they get a day and for those who are homebound, it may be the only way they see people,” said Garth. “Those who make it in here on their own or on the Red River bus, it’s their only time out and it would be a shame if they lost that.”

Garth is promoting the sales tax in a positive light both within and outside the center.

Last Friday, she explained to those who were in attendance for the noon meal about the tax.

While at first they were wary, many changed their stance when she told them what it was for.

“They understood and I’m pushing the sales tax,” Garth said. “They need this place and I hope I have it to come to in 10 years.”

Some  of the senior citizens present Tuesday morning said they did approve of the tax because of the small percentage it is and to make sure their nutrition program continues.

“You couldn’t eat at home for $1.50 and some can’t fix a meal for themselves,” said Hester Blair, who has been going to the Senior Center for more than 20 years. “I’ll support (the tax) if need be, it’s very little to ask.”

Others, such as Oleta Wright, couldn’t imagine not having the center as part of her day.

“I’ve been coming her for five or six years and I enjoy it,” she said. “It makes my day.”

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