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The Grace Martin Harwell Senior Center (GMHSC) is the latest example of government surprising the people. Whenever a municipality or county changes or takes a service or benefit away from a group of people, there’s going to be a problem.

In this case, the City of Washington implemented fees for the Grace Martin Harwell Senior Center for members residing outside the city limits. This upset both the city and county members. The fees were included as part of the 2024-25 budget. The fees for an individual range from $175 a year to $20 a month.

If the city wanted to reduce membership, this was a sure way to do it. $175 a year is a lot of money to many seniors. They didn’t budget for this. We’re in an era of increasing inflation that makes it difficult for many people, including seniors, to pay their bills.

Department 010-6123 is in the Washington City Budget as the seniors’ program. The last full-year budgeted expenditure for the seniors’ program was $224,331. The 2024-25 budget is $299,480.

The Grace Martin Harwell Senior Center is housed in the Peterson Building. I do not know if part or all the senior’s program budget is applied to the Grace Martin Harwell Senior Center. Either way it’s a considerable cost.

Beaufort County contributed $20,000 to the Grace Martin Harwell Senior Center this year.

Funds provided by Beaufort County are less than 7% of the budgeted cost of the city’s seniors’ program. I doubt Washington will spend the entire $299,480 in the present budget year. The cost will probably be between the 2022-23 actual cost of $224,331 and 2024-25 budgeted expenditures.

1,300 of the 2,200 members of GHSC are county residents, or 59%. Looking at those numbers and the cost of the seniors’ program, I can understand why the City of Washington would charge the county members. If all 1,300 county members paid the $175 annual fee and remained members, Washington would raise a minimum of $227,500.

If the senior center was to be a free benefit to the city and county members, it would make sense that the county pays an amount the city and county would deem reasonable. I have no idea what this number might be.

I think the senior program is a sensitive issue. It would make sense to me that the City of Washington and Beaufort County communicate, discuss and possibly negotiate solutions to programs that involve both city and county residents.

Population of the municipalities east of Washington decreased significantly between the 2010 and 2020 census. There may be other concerns with these communities that need discussion.

Way back when I was a county commissioner, we used to hold board meetings periodically at one of the municipalities. I thought it was and is still a good idea. I never thought communication between the county and municipalities was adequate. Communication always makes things a lot simpler.

Even though I think county and municipal government should be simple, it is not. It is complex. Our elected officials put in a lot of time and effort. It’s not an easy job serving and representing the people. Bless those who are willing to serve.

Al Klemm is a Washington resident and former Beaufort County Commissioner.