This isn't the red tape we want to cut

Advocates don't pause when asked what Red Tape Cutters means in a state beset with budget woes, layoffs, and the grim reality of a growing number of foreclosures.

They say it's the difference between suburban Cook County senior citizens getting needed medicines or not, buying groceries or going hungry, having lights and heat or being cold in the dark. And for an increasing number of our elderly, it's the difference between living independently at home or a far costlier nursing home or assisted living facility.

Apparently state budgeteers aren't familiar with the true impact. If they were, it's doubtful they would have chopped the program - which cost $251,700 this fiscal year - completely out of the proposed state budget. We're well aware of the dire need for cuts and respect that those cuts will require painful decisions. In fact, we have urged careful scrutiny of the state budget to ensure every one of our hard-earned tax dollars is utilized in the best fashion. Few programs can't withstand some trimming.

But we urge caution before wholesale cutting of programs without careful consideration on the ultimate impact. Such wholesale cuts may initially appear to improve the bottom line, but cuts that cost more in the long run are particularly unwise in this troubled economy.

To arbitrarily cut a program that costs $251,700 but generates about $24.6 million - yes, million - in federal and grant dollars for about 10,000 senior citizens, seems shortsighted. Perhaps there are valid reasons during this time of difficult economic decisions, but we sure hate to see the state chop what appears to be a good program with solid return.

As the economy has tightened, it has hit our older residents particularly hard. The Red Tape Cutters program helps overcome barriers to accessing benefit programs such as Medicaid, Food Stamps, utility help, real estate tax deferral, reverse mortgages, veterans benefits, prescription drug programs and more.

Often seniors, many seeking help for the first time in their lives, are overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of bureaucracy.

Red Tape Cutters, coordinated through the Suburban Area Agency on Aging and working with a number of local agencies like the Kenneth Young Center in Elk Grove Village and Catholic Charities in Arlington Heights, is able to cut through the bureaucracy to help seniors from Elk Grove Village, Mount Prospect, Arlington Heights, Schaumburg and across Cook County.

With a rapidly-growing senior population and clearly escalating economic challenges, it's vital we keep programs that minimize the strain on existing services.

Good budgeting is maximizing dollars. Spending just over $250,000 to get $24.6 million for local residents seems pretty cost effective to us.

Take another look at Red Tape Cutters - it sounds like a program we should keep.