MAHONING COUNTY Agency on aging to be axed

The director said she is concerned about the lack of services for seniors.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Citing budget constraints as the reason, Mahoning County commissioners have decided to abolish the county council on aging at the end of this month.
"In times like these, you have to make some tough decisions," said Commissioner Vicki Allen Sherlock. "The dollars are just stretched thinner and thinner every year."
Director Kerry Collins said she was notified this week in a letter from Commissioner Ed Reese that she is being laid off, effective April 30. She has served as the department's director since November 1998. She also is the department's only employee.
"I feel really bad for the senior citizens. Especially the ones who are low-income," Collins said. "I'm really concerned that people won't know where to go for help."
According to figures from Ohio's District XI Agency On Aging, 22.1 percent of Mahoning County's overall population is 60 or older.
"There is going to be a huge gap in services for these people," Collins said, noting that she generally gets about 125 telephone calls a week from seniors looking for various types of assistance.
She sent a letter to the council's board members and advocates, informing them of the looming action.
Joseph Caruso, interim assistant county administrator, said commissioners will probably pass a resolution formally abolishing the department at their meeting Thursday.
Anticipated revenue loss
Sherlock said the cut was made in anticipation of losing some $12.5 million in general fund revenue next year. That's about how much is brought in each year from a 0.5 percent county sales tax that expires at the end of this year.
Voters rejected renewal of the tax in the March 2 election. Commissioners have said they will put the measure back on the ballot in November.
But Sherlock said even if the tax passes in the fall, it's not likely that the council on aging will be revived.
She said for now, the council on aging is the only budget cut being made, and Collins -- who makes $27,473 a year -- is the only county employee being laid off. More cuts could be made in the future, though.
Caruso said the department's annual budget is about $85,000, which includes Collins' salary and benefits. About $40,000 of that goes toward a new prescription assistance program.
Collins said in its first 10 months, the program has created a savings of about $1 million for county seniors.
Sherlock said commissioners hope to continue funding that program, which they believe will be operated by private entities instead of the commissioners' office.
The council on aging was created by commissioners in November 1989 to develop programs for the elderly.