The Egyptian Area Agency on Aging is in the same boat as other state agencies during the ongoing Illinois budget impasse.
Executive director John Smith says his agency is working on contingency plans based on receiving no state funds, some funds or all of its allotted state dollars.
Smith says they will host three public hearing across southern Illinois next week to inform senior citizens how they will spend their money during FY-2017 for services such as senior centers, transportation and case management.
"We provide a scenario for people to comment on contingencies for whether we get more or less funding than what we think we will get at this point."
Smith says his agency will continue to provide services to current clients, despite the ongoing budget standoff. But, he says new clients will have to be placed on waiting lists.
"For example, home delivered meals. In most of our counties, we are not putting new people on the home delivered meal list right away. They'll go on the waiting list until someone who is already getting meals goes off for whatever reason."
Smith says the senior centers under his agency's control have built up enough contingency funds over the years, and with the help of federal funds, to remain open through the end of August, maybe September, if the budget impasse continues for a few more months.
The public hearings are scheduled for Monday, June 6 at 10:30 a.m. at the Cairo Senior Center, Tuesday, June 7 at 11:30 a.m. at the West Frankfort Senior Center and Wednesday, June 8 at 10:45 a.m. at the Marion Senior Center.
