Golden Circle Senior Centers in four southern Illinois counties will remain open.
State Senator Dale Fowler from Harrisburg says 90 workers at the facilities in Saline, Gallatin, Pope and Hardin counties were notified the senior centers were going to close in 60 days due to a lack of funds.
But Fowler says the Illinois Comptroller’s Office learned the Golden Circle Senior Centers were owed $136,000 in voucher reimbursements, which will keep the facilities open. He credits the Comptroller's office for its quick action.
"They are going to be monitoring, on a weekly basis, any vouchers that come in to the Department on Aging. They will expedite those expenditures to the Golden Circles so this does not happen again. Then we (he and Rep. Patrick Windhorst) will continue to work with our managed care organizations through our government affairs team to find out what the issue is with the back pay there. We promise to get that expedited as well."
Fowler says keeping these centers open will mean they can continue to provide cleaning services and meals for area seniors.
