Published: October 24, 2009 12:01 am         

Senior nutrition program to see cuts in funding

State Sen. Patrick Anderson expressed disappointment Friday Gov. Brad Henry will not use funds at his disposal to shore up the state’s senior nutrition programs.

Anderson, R-Enid, had sent Henry a letter Wednesday asking him to use some of the governor’s $105 million in discretionary funds to help replace cuts in funding to the nutrition programs.

Due to recent revenue shortfalls, the Department of Human Services ap-proved a $7.4 million cut to the senior nutrition programs, which will go into effect Nov. 1, Anderson said.

Oklahoma is facing declining revenue, and state agencies have had to absorb 5 percent across-the-board cuts three straight months. Officials worry the cuts may continue.

“I acknowledge that there are many worthy programs across the state that are suffering because of budget cuts, but the senior nutrition program is different in that it provides a daily meal directly to those who need it most,” Anderson said.

Anderson said seniors in rural Oklahoma will suffer the most from the cuts. In his letter to Henry, he explained how Wheatheart Nutrition Pro-ject, which is in his district, has been forced to cut its budget by more than $230,000. That amounts to a 38 percent cut in the program’s budget.

“These nutrition centers have been notified that their funding will be cut effective Nov. 1,” Ander-son said. “This has caused these centers to initiate plans to close facilities, limit services and furlough employees.

“The end result is that thousands of Oklahoma seniors who depend upon a daily meal at these centers or get a mobile meal delivered to their home will simply not get fed,” Anderson said.

Wheatheart Nutrition provides daily meals to 970 people in Alfalfa, Grant, Kay, Garfield, Noble, Blaine, Kingfisher and Major counties. Wheatheart’s nutrition sites are located in Billings, Blackwell, Cherokee, Enid, Garber, Helena, Kingfisher, Medford, Newkirk, Perry, Ponca City, Pond Creek, Ringwood, Tonkawa, Watonga and Waukomis.

Anderson said the importance of the senior nutrition programs is far-reaching.

“These programs provide more than just meals,” he said. “They provide companionship, a sense of community and an opportunity to check on the welfare of many of our most vulnerable citizens. Furthermore, cutting these programs in the coming winter months could have devastating effects on our elderly population.”

According to Paul Sund, communications director for Henry, the discretionary funds already are promised to other services in the state.

“We share legislators’ concern about the senior nutrition program and the many other state services that are being impacted by the ongoing budget crunch, but unfortunately, the stimulus funds in question have already been committed to other state needs,” Sund said. “And, even if those dollars were available, they are one-time funds that would leave another budget hole at the Department of Human Services as soon as they were exhausted. It is most prudent to use those stimulus dollars on one-time projects that won’t cause future budget problems.”

Since Henry decided not to use the discretionary funds to help the nutrition programs, Anderson said he wanted to know where the money will be spent.

“If the governor will not agree to spend any of his discretionary funds to fill the gap for the senior nutrition program, then I would ask that he publicly disclose exactly where he does intend to spend the $105 million that he has at his disposal so that we can all have a better idea of what his priorities are,” Anderson said.

The lack of funding for nutrition programs cannot be addressed by legislation until the session resumes in February, Anderson said.

“Republicans and Democrats in the state Senate agree that the funding problems of the senior nutrition program need to be fixed,” he said. “It is not a partisan issue. However, the Legislature can not fix this problem until it is brought back into session in February of 2010 — three months from now. The only solution available is the governor.

“I am not asking the governor to fund this program in its entirety. I simply am asking that he provide the program with enough funds so that we can provide daily meals for these seniors through the winter. Once the Legislature convenes in February, the ball will be in our court, but until then we need the governor to act.”

Sund said the governor is working on a plan to help shore up the state budget.

“We have been working with legislative leaders to develop a comprehensive, long-term plan to address Oklahoma’s developing budget crisis, including the potential use of Rainy Day funds, and we certainly welcome anyone’s input on the issue,” he said. “With revenues falling across the board, we don’t expect to find any easy or painless solutions.”