While Other Senior Centers Have Folded, Niles Added A (Low) Membership Fee

It was so wonderful, wasn’t it?  Niles had a senior center that was completely free to use if you were a Niles resident.  It subsidized the classes, parties, taxis, and even the bus trips.  Niles Senior Center members paid approximately 50 – 70% less than other senior centers in the area for most everything that the Center provided.  Sure non – residents could attend parties, classes or trips, but they could only register for these a week before the class began or the trip left.  This was to ensure that the Niles residents who wanted to sign up had the opportunity (the incredibly long opportunity) to register for them first. 

So what happened?  What made this wonderland of a Center have to begin to implement membership fees, non – member higher rates, cut the taxi program all together, and stop the subsidy of programming and other services at the Center?  In basic terms… the world finally caught up to Niles. 

Let’s face it – Niles is a great city – don’t just believe me – Businessweek just named it one of the best places in the country to raise a family.  It has frighteningly low tax rates compared to surrounding communities, (and how about theat garbage bill)  and fees are constantly being reviewed by the village administration to make sure that the fees that are charged are absolutely only what is needed – so as to not gouge their residents.  In fact, residents haven’t had a tax increase in years!  It has flaws, no doubt, but all in all, the village does try to create a community feel for a fraction of the cost to its residents.  They do this by having an excellent support staff of employees who genuinely care about the village, and by business taxes to offset the cost for these quality services.  Unfortunately, for everyone in the country, the economy’s downturn in the past 10 or so years has really taken its toll on business, and with less tax revenue, there is come higher cost for products that were once more affordable. Niles relies heavily Golf Mill Mall for tax revenue.  With more and more online purchasing (I admit I use it for convenience), there is less revenue at the local brick and mortar stores – which means less tax money coming into the coffers of the Village. 

What does this mean to the Senior Center?  Well, we are lucky.  Throughout the nation thousands of both public and private centers have cut hours, services, staff, or have completely shut down all together.   The NSC has taken a different approach to this dire situation.  The village is no longer subsidizing programs and events, and has issued a membership fee – a low one considering the cost of some centers in the area and throughout the country.  This fee helps pay for the bi – monthly newsletter and helps offset the cost of running the center.  Some programming and services were cut, but (knock on wood) we have stayed afloat amidst the storm of the economic crisis.

It’s true, new members to the NSC must be Niles residents.  Maybe that will change in the future which will allow for more fees to be paid to the NSC, but until then, non-members can register for any program or trip offered, just at a slightly higher price tag.  There are also free programs at the Center such as movies that anyone can attend. 

If you’d like to hear more about fees, programming, social and health services, or join our email news list, please call me at 847-588-8420.