<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2lQdPF_0oCUgtJO00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2lQdPF_0oCUgtJO00" width="850" height="453" > Senior-focused activities in Battle Ground will have more financial support as the City Council voted to approve a 50% increase in funding through 2033. During its Aug. 21 meeting, the City Council unanimously voted to raise funding from $8,000 annually to $12,000. The funds are available for any activity involving a gathering of five or more seniors, defined as people 62 and older, so long as the activity uses city-owned rental facilities, the city’s Senior Center or the Battle Ground Community Center, according to a staff report provided to the council. <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> The program is fairly new as the council initially approved it in 2021. In its first year of operation, $7,500 of the $8,000 was reimbursed to groups using city facilities, Finance Director Meagan Lowery said. So far for 2023, about $6,000 has been used. Programs eligible for reimbursement must be open to all seniors and can’t charge an entry or membership fee, according to the resolution. Donations to groups applying for the funds are allowed. Previously, the program was expected to expire at the end of this year or when the $8,000 allocated was reached. Last year, the council approved an extension for the same dollar amount through 2028. The increase in allotted funds was in anticipation of increasing rates to use city facilities, Lowery said. The city can offer the reimbursements through state law language regarding the “poor and infirm,” she said. <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> Battle Ground City Manager Ern Erdman said the reason for proposing the increase now was to prepare for the 2024 budget. With the potential rate increases for using facilities, the additional funds would make sure all groups are paying an equal share. “If they all use it, this would cover all of them for the year,” Erdman said. Although initially considering the extension until the end of 2028, Battle Ground Mayor Philip Johnson wanted to see the agreement for the program increase from five to 10 years, “just to give the program a good life, if you will,” he said. Johnson felt funding senior programs was money well spent. He said the regular senior lunches have grown from a few dozen to 200-plus in attendance. Battle Ground Senior Citizens, Inc. hosts a monthly luncheon at the Community Center. The event moved from the city’s Senior Center following the pandemic due to the need for more space. <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> Like other populations, the COVID-19 pandemic showed a reason for seniors to have opportunities to be out and about and not homebound, Johnson said. Ultimately, the council agreed in a split 4-3 decision to increase the extension to 10 years. </div></body>

Mountain View, CA

Senior-focused activities in Battle Ground will have more financial support as the City Council voted to approve a 50% increase in funding through 2033.    During its Aug. 21 meeting, the City  ...