MADISON’S LEADING NON-PROFIT SERVING OLDER ADULTS

OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE OLDER ADULTS A BRIDGE TO SUCCESSFUL AGING. TO ENSURE LONGER, HEALTHIER, AND SAFER INDEPENDENT LIVES, NEWBRIDGE PROVIDES A VARIETY OF SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES FOR OLDER ADULTS. OUR SERVICES ARE FREE DEPENDING ON YOUR INCOME.

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BREAKING NEWS - updated 11/05/24

City of Madison Proposed Budget Cuts

NewBridge is facing a potential budget cut of $277,970 from the City of Madison's Community Development Division (CDD).

What are the Next Steps?
Our fight continues. The Committee on Aging will be meeting on Wednesday, December 4 at 2:30 pm to discuss the cut. We encourage you to write a email to the Committee on Aging expressing your concern - even if you've already sent one. Tell them how important these activities and services are for you or the older adults in our community.

Email a Written Comment to CommitteeOnAging@cityofmadison.com

The proposed cuts to NewBridge are:

$138,887 for older adult activities
$102,394 for case management
$20,563 for home chore/food bridge
$16,125 for volunteer guardian/representative payee

Resource toolkit with letter templates, contact info, links and more

**Update 11/13/24: Thank you to everyone who contacted the City's Common Council and who spoke and who registered. The Common Council meeting occurred last night, Tuesday, November 12. Click here to watch a recording of the meeting. Three Alders - Verveer, Harrington McKinney, and Knox - sponsored amendment #4 which adds $103,870 to the CDD Older Adult Programs. The amendment was approved by the Common Council. The CDD staff will now be allocating those funds to the agencies that they choose. The Committee on Aging will be voting on those recommendations Wednesday, December 4 at 2:30 pm.

**Update 10/28/24: Thank you to everyone who contacted members of the City's Finance Committee and their Alders. The Finance Committee unanimously voted to re-refer the CDD's proposed funding cut to NewBridge back to the Committee on Aging for their next meeting on Wednesday, December 4 at 2:30 pm. Alder Verveer commented that if the City's referendum is successful they could potentially add more funding to the older adult services budget. This would help fund the new agencies and alleviate the cut to NewBridge. To watch a recording the Finance Committee meeting - Click Here.

**Update 10/23/24: An email was sent this morning at 10:30 am from the City of Madison: “Based on responses from committee members, we will not have quorum for today's meeting, so it will be canceled. In terms of next steps, the resolution approving the allocation of City funds designated to support older adult programming will be presented to the City’s Finance Committee on Monday, October 28th, followed by final adoption by the Common Council on Tuesday, October 29th.”

**Update 9/26/24: After 2 hours of testimonies, presentations, and discussion, including 9 individuals who spoke out against the cuts to NewBridge, the Committee on Aging (COA) ultimately voted to refer the Community Development Division's (CDD) proposal to their next meeting on Wednesday, October 23 at 2:30 pm. In response to advocacy from NewBridge's supporters, many COA members seem open to considering an alternative proposal. Alders Verveer and Knox, Jr. will update the full Common Council at their October 8 meeting that the COA needs more time to discuss the CDD's proposal for older adult services funding. We would like to thank everyone who attended the COA meeting, gave testimonies, and wrote to their alders and the Committee on Aging. Your impact was felt!