Salt Lake County Council votes to close senior center in Salt Lake City during budget workshop

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — As Salt Lake County Council continues to deliberate on the county budget in the wake of a proposed tax increase, the council voted to close a senior center in Salt Lake City.

During the County Council meeting on Tuesday, November 4, the council voted to close the Tenth East Senior Center as they voted on budgets for Human Services and specifically, Aging and Adult Services.

This comes after Mayor Jenny Wilson proposed a nearly 20% property tax increase, and after the council voted to close four county daycare centers last week. The daycare closures were done with the intention of avoiding raising taxes as much as was originally proposed, and that was also the reasoning behind those who supported closing the senior center.

Councilmember Aimee Winder Newton (District 3) proposed the closure of the Tenth East Senior Center, arguing that it is very close in location to the Liberty Senior Center, so it is not needed. She also argued that closing it would save money on previously approved renovations.

There was disagreement among the council over whether closing the senior center would actually save taxpayers money, because in 2022, the council voted unanimously to approve a $10 million renovation of the building, and work has already begun.

Winder Newton responded that the work that has already been done has primarily been asbestos abatement, which they would have to do anyway before the building could be turned into something else.

Several other council members countered that this is fiscally irresponsible, as they’ve already invested $3 million in the renovation, and that they have already promised the seniors that the center will reopen within 18 months. All this will do is anger and alienate the public, because they did not notify the public that they would vote on this issue, they argued.

Councilmember Laurie Stringham (At-Large A) brought up the point that seniors are going to be the most affected by tax increases, as many seniors are on fixed incomes. She also argued that the seniors at the Tenth East Senior Center have found care at nearby senior centers, and they need to allocate those renovation funds to maintaining other facilities.

Care for seniors is crucial because, according to analysis presented at the council meeting, Salt Lake County’s senior population has risen by 19% over the past five years, and it is projected to grow an additional 28% by 2035. The highest population of seniors in the county is found in southwestern Salt Lake County.

County Mayor Jenny Wilson argued for continuing to renovate the building and for the council to get creative to use the building for different forms of senior care.

Ultimately, the council voted to close the senior center. Like the vote to close the daycares, this vote was also split along party lines, 5-4, with the republicans on the council voting in support of closing the senior center.

The council voted to approve the remainder of the Aging and Adult Services budget 8-1, with Councilmember Carlos Moreno (District 2) voting against it.