Senior groups join to protect programs

Senior advocates from around the state are joining forces to protect senior services from impending budget cuts and advocate for senior issues in Nevada.

Janice Ayres, executive director of the rural 15 county Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), said service groups and advocates are becoming increasingly worried that programs for seniors will be cut back because of the state's revenue problems. She said the final straw was Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki's bill draft to "securitize" the $1.2 billion revenue stream from the tobacco settlement to help offset the general fund shortfall for the coming biennium.

Krolicki has tried several times before to sell that revenue stream for a one-time pot of money - but prior to this year, he said it would be to better support the health and education programs it now goes toward. This time, however, he proposed it as a way to generate some $600 million to cover the state's revenue shortfall for the coming biennium.

Ayres said the tobacco money provides "essential human services for the state's senior and disabled populations." About half the money each year goes to Senior Rx, Independent Living grants that help keep seniors in their homes, the phone assistance program, Home Companion, respite care, transportation services and legal services for seniors.

The other half goes to support the Millennium Scholarship program at the university system. Ayres said seniors support that program which helps young people get into college as well.

"The kids are our future," she said. "There are a lot of good kids out there that deserve this opportunity. We're not greedy. We don't want all the money."

She said a total of 63 social services agencies are combining their clout to protect the tobacco fund revenues and prevent them from being used as a one-time fix for the budget. They have formed the Nevada Senior Corps Association as an advocacy group for senior issues and programs.

"This is going to be an association to be reckoned with," she said.

Ayres said the association will watch the issues to determine how proposed legislation will affect seniors. She said she doesn't think any lawmakers put in legislation designed to hurt seniors but that, sometimes, "they put bills in that they think are going to be good for seniors but maybe they haven't looked at all aspects of it."

She said the association wants to work with lawmakers to make sure what they do benefits rather than harms seniors.

Ayres said the association is inviting seniors and others to get involved. She said those interested in western Nevada can call her office at RSVP, 687-4680, extension 2.

"This group should have been together a long time ago," she said.

• Contact reporter Geoff Dornan at gdornan@nevadaappeal.com or 687-8750.