For the third time this month, at a work session held by the Archuleta County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) on Tuesday, Oct. 22, the board discussed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) being proposed by Archuleta Seniors Inc. (ASI) that would have the county take the Pagosa Senior Center under its wing, and increase funding.
During the work session, Commissioner Veronica Medina initiated the conversation, explaining that the county has “had emails come in asking questions about the budget and where we’re at,” in relation to the MOU being proposed by ASI.
Medina asked if the board should direct staff, and County Attorney Todd Weaver, to review and refine the MOU to address some of the concerns that were brought up during a discussion on the matter at a work session held on Oct. 15.
Those concerns included things like the structure of the ASI board and whether ASI or the county would have the ability to hire and fire employees.
Medina asked the board if it is “really a consideration to bring the Senior Center under the wing of the county or if we’re going to continue just leaving them outside of the county.”
She explained that before the county attempts to budget in an increase in funding to ASI, it needs to first determine if an agreement can be reached in regard to the MOU.
“I think before we get into budget talks, we would need the MOU to be solidified,” she said, adding that if the MOU doesn’t work out, then the county wouldn’t need to look at how to increase funding from $280,000 to $610,000.
Commissioner Warren Brown asked when the board should anticipate having a vote on the MOU.
The county is required by law to approve its budget by Dec. 15.
“As we know, each department already reduced their budget by 2 percent,” Medina mentioned.
She also noted the commissioners’ budget “has been reduced quite a bit” now that American Rescue Plan Act funds are gone.
“I don’t know, budgetary wise, if we can take on the Senior Center. I mean, from what I’m hearing, it doesn’t sound like we can,” Medina said, explaining there are other options the county can explore to provide more resources for ASI.
Commissioner Ronnie Maez spoke in support of the county taking on ASI and having its own senior services department.
“If we can financially do it, then I wouldn’t be opposed to doing it,” Maez said.
County Manager Jack Harper indicated the county included the current funding level of $280,000 in the draft budget.
Finance Director Chad Eaton explained that if the county approves the MOU making ASI employees official county employees, the cost of wages and salaries would be $610,000.
Medina mentioned that the county may have additional costs, as well, with the potential need for additional Human Resources and Finance Department employees.
She reiterated that an MOU needs to be agreed on before looking at how to make the budget work.
“Because, if we can’t come to an agreement on that MOU, then it doesn’t matter whether or not we can financially take them under,” Medina said.
She also noted that the county has been discussing the matter for more than a year now.
“It wasn’t like we didn’t know this was coming,” Maez said.
Medina commented that she does not want to respond to ASI by saying the county ran out of time in regard to addressing the proposal from ASI.
“That’s not a reasonable answer,” she said.
Medina also clarified that she sits on the ASI board and that ASI Executive Director Rose Chavez made a “fantastic case” as to why it is important for the county to take on ASI, noting the organization has been impacted by a lot of uncertainty in terms of funding.
“Seniors are important,” Maez commented.
“Absolutely,” Medina replied.
She went on to comment that she would like to direct staff to refine the MOU to address the concerns previously mentioned.
clayton@pagosasun.com
