Representative Geraldo Alicea (D-Charlton) is pleased to announce an increase in Council on Aging funding in the House FY’08 Budget. As lead sponsor of the amendment, which seventy nine other Representatives also supported, Representative Alicea worked hard to ensure that local Senior Citizen organizations were given an increase of funding to continue the programs that they run out of Senior Centers throughout the 6th Worcester District. The amendment increased total Council on Aging expenditures statewide from $7,575,000 to $7,825,000.

“Supporting programs for Senior Citizens was an important goal of mine during the Fiscal Year ’08 Budget Process. Council’s on Aging throughout the 6th Worcester District will be able to use these additional funds to support and expand the programs they offer throughout South Worcester County,” stated Representative Alicea. “It was a pleasure to lead this fight for additional funding, and I will continue to do so.” 

The House Budget also included increases in a few different areas of Elder services, increasing funding for local nutrition programs, geriatric mental health services, and congregate housing. 

“These increases as a whole showed the House’s continued commitment to the health and welfare of elders in the Commonwealth,” stated Rep. Alicea.